
■ '• \.^^ :'Mk\ %/ /Jfev %.** 








Digitized by tlie Internet Arcliive 
in 2010 witli funding from 
Tlie Library of Congress 



littp://www.arcliive.org/details/giantoftlireewarsOObarn 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 




\^ 



Scott stood with blade balanced. 

(See page 77.) 



THE GIANT ^ 

OF THREE WARS 

A LIFE OF 
GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT 

, BY 

JAIV^ES BARNES 

AUTHOR OF MIDSHIPMAf'fARRAGUT, THE HERO OF ERIE, 

COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE, WITH THE FLAG IN THE 

CHANNEL, NAVAL ACTIONS OF l8l2, ETC. 

ILLUSTRATED BY GORDON H. GRANT 




NEW YORK 
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 

1903 



I 
5^3 ■ 



THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

Two Copies R«ceiv8«i 

SEP 10 1903 

J. Copyright Entry — 

CU9S Oi XXc. No 

COPY B. 



Copyright, 1903 
By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 



Published September, 1903 



INTRODUCTION 



In writing of the lives of some great 
men we find that their careers lead up easily 
and gradually to some crowning effort, some 
great episode. It is very seldom that we 
meet men in history, outside of those born 
to high positions, whose lives are filled with 
doings of national importance ; especially is 
it so of military leaders. Their reputation 
depends upon some great campaign ; per- 
haps one boldly achieved victory has been 
the cause of all their fame. 

With the hero of this narrative it was 
different. Events crowded themselves into 
his life. He had won his spurs and demon- 
strated his ability at a time when most men 
are but in the school of great affairs. Many 
times Scott had been compared to Napoleon 

V 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

in his wonderful grasp of situations and sur- 
roundings ; but yet it remained for him to 
gather his largest honors in his later years. 

It is impossible to build up any fictitious 
romance around a man with a life so filled 
with actual doings, and, in a book of this 
kind, space is all too short even to put them 
down in the order that they happened. It 
is very seldom that a soldier has fifty years 
of continual active service to his credit, yet 
this is true of Scott. But the people of 
to-day know little of him, though many who 
are still below middle age remember seeing 
him alive. 

He came almost within reaching dis- 
tance of being the President of the United 
States. When the civil war broke out he 
was at the head of the army, an old man. 
His mind was clear, but he had reached the 
time when men have to step aside, and he 
did so ; grudgingly, perhaps, for that ambi- 
tion to serve and to command remained with 
him to his death. 

One of the things he said — and he said 
vi 



INTRODUCTION 

many things worth remembering — might 
well be preserved : ** The world is made up of 
little things, and nothing is too small to be 
despised if it counts in the summing up of 
one's duties." 

** Republics," some one has written, " are 
ungrateful ; but posterity is just, and history 
is eventually impartial." 

Perhaps this little book may lead people 
to read more deeply of a man who may have 
had his faults, as all men have, but who pos- 
sessed those qualities that make men great — 
a sense of duty, a love of country, a brave 
heart and an indomitable will, and a gentle 
and loving sympathy for the suffering or the 
unfortunate. 



vn 



CONTENTS 



Introduction .... 
I.— School-days in old Virginia . 
II. — The volunteer .... 
III. — From peace to war 
IV. — The battle at Queenstown 
V. — A prisoner of war 
VI. — From Fort George to Chippewa 
VII. — Chippewa to Niagara . 

VIII. — Honors won 

IX. — The capture of Vera Cruz 

X. — Cerro Gordo 

XI. — In sight of Mexico . . . 
XII. — Contreras and Churubusco 
XIII. — Success and peace 



PAGB 
V 

I 

i8 

37 

51 

72 

89 

103 

140 

156 

174 

192 

205 

223 



IX 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



FACING 
PAGE 



Scott stood with blade balanced . Frontispiece 

He landed a blow that lifted the bully fairly off his 

feet II 

They moved him to the rear 135 

Scott stood beside the guns 206 



XI 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 



CHAPTER I 

SCHOOL-DAYS IN OLD VIRGINIA 

WiNFiELD Scott came of a sturdy an- 
cestry. His father, William Scott, a Revo- 
lutionary soldier, had married in Peters- 
burg, Va., in the year 1780, the beautiful 
Miss Ann Mason, the daughter of a neigh- 
bor. William was a Scotchman by descent, 
for his father, one of the clan Buccleuch, 
had escaped to America after the fateful 
battle of Culloden in 1746. Winfield did 
not remember his grandfather on his father's 
side, but he remembered well his mother's 
father, Daniel Mason, and his grandmother 
also, who was the only daughter of John 
Winfield, the wealthiest man in the colony 
of Virginia. At the time Winfield was 
born, at Laurel Branch, Va., June 13, 1786, 

I 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

an aunt and an uncle were still living, sister 
and brother of his mother ; and, as the uncle 
was unmarried and the laws of Virginia in 
those days were like those of England, 
landed property descending in line to the 
male heirs, the boy was at that time des- 
tined, it appeared, to have much of the 
world's goods, and the pathway that stretched 
before him was an easy one. Perhaps the 
subsequent story of his life might have been 
changed altogether if the circumstances had 
not been altered. Very early he began to 
receive a good training for the battle of 
life. 

Winfield's mother was a very religious 
woman, and she intended to bring up her 
only child to be a God-fearing man, and in 
this she well succeeded, for it was she who 
laid the foundations of his strong and up- 
right character. But, despite the fact that 
in many ways he was old for his years, he 
was much the same as any other boy and 
had a boy's love for fun, adventure, and mis- 
chief. On one occasion, when he was only 

2 



SCHOOL-DAYS IN OLD VIRGINIA 

seven years old, the idea seized him while he 
was preparing for church, that a ramble in 
the sunlit fields would be much more to his 
liking than the close atmosphere of the 
meeting-house ; and so, about the time that 
he was expected to be ready for divine wor- 
ship, he hid himself in one of the empty 
guest-chambers. There he was found by 
one of the servants and escorted to the pres- 
ence of his mother. Mrs. Scott believed in 
the old adage of the danger of spoiling chil- 
dren, according to biblical maxim, and a 
switch was sent for. But little Winfield did 
not cringe or beg. Looking up into his 
mother's face, and then glancing at the in- 
strument of punishment, a small branch cut 
from a Lombardy poplar, he gravely quoted 
a verse from St. Matthew, in the lesson of 
the day, " Every tree that bringeth forth not 
good fruit should be hewn down and cast 
into the fire." Mrs. Scott said nothing; 
she put aside the instrument of punishment, 
and taking Winfield by the hand, she rea- 
soned with him piously as they walked on to 

3 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

church, which probably did him more good 
than the whipping would have done. 

Winfield's uncle, Mr. Mason, from 
whom the boy would have inherited the 
vast estates of his great-grandfather, had late 
in life married a Miss Greenway. Soon a 
son was born to him, and the birth of sev- 
eral other children followed within the 
course of the next few years. Of course 
this made a great difference to young Win- 
field Scott, for instead of looking forward 
to the time when he would in the due 
course of events be a wealthy man, his 
mother impressed upon him the fact that 
he would have his own way to make and 
that his place in the world depended upon 
his own exertions. 

For some time Winfield had studied 
only with his mother and his uncle's father- 
in-law, Dr. Greenway. Then for a few 
months he had as a tutor a young Irish- 
man who happened to be passing some 
time in Virginia, and then he cam.e under 
the care of a Quaker who lived at Peters- 

4 



SCHOOL-DAYS IN OLD VIRGINIA 

burg, Mr. James Hargrave, who had a small 
boarding-school where a few sons of the 
neighboring gentlefolk lived together and 
pursued their studies — studies, however, for 
the most part dealing only with the classics 
and literature. Greek and Latin, a smatter- 
ing of history, and a running acquaintance 
with English literature were all that were 
considered necessary for a gentleman's son 
to learn at school. Scott showed a decided 
taste for books and reading, and he had a 
quick and inquiring mind and natural apti- 
tude. Before he had been a month at 
school he led his class and was the Qua- 
ker's favorite pupil. 

One day, as Mr. Hargrave was return- 
ing from a visit to the Friends' meeting- 
house, of which he was a prominent mem- 
ber, and as he was approaching the school- 
building, he heard the sound of a great 
uproar. Entering, he came upon an inter- 
esting scene. 

From a storeroom that opened off the 
study there came cries half of anger and 
2 5 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

half of laughter. Jammed up against the 
door was a huge packing-box full of books 
that had been moved across the schoolroom 
and placed there to imprison some of the 
scholars who were doing their best to re- 
move the obstruction and free themselves. 
Seated on one of the benches near by was 
young Scott, now a -boy of thirteen, but so 
grown and strong that he looked to be at 
least three years older. Two or three other 
young gentlemen were endeavoring to assist 
their imprisoned comrades to remove the 
packing-box, but their efforts were in vain. 
Mr. Hargrave was a Quaker, and therefore 
slow to anger, but he also was a strict dis- 
ciplinarian, and this was the hour at which 
these young gentlemen should have been 
engaged in study. He quickly strode across 
the room, and calling upon the boys to de- 
sist from their uproar, he took hold of one 
of the handles of the box. But one tug 
was enough to show him he could not move 
it unaided. 

" Who brought this box here?" he asked. 



SCHOOL-DAYS IN OLD VIRGINIA 

** I did," replied young Scott, swinging 
himself down to the floor. 

"And who helped you?" asked the 
schoolmaster. 

" No one," replied the boy. 

" Now, friend Winfield," returned Mr. 
Hargrave, doubting indeed that the young 
boy could have performed the feat unaided, 
" if that is so, I will ask you to replace it." 

Winfield took hold of the rope handle 
and straightened his strong young back. As 
he began to lift, his face grew red, and the 
schoolmaster, fearing he would strain himself, 
called upon him to stop. Winfield did so, 
obeying, however, with a gesture of remon- 
strance. 

" I will get one of the men from the 
yard to help me," said Mr. Hargrave; "and 
I wish to assure you that your energy has 
been entirely misplaced." 

*' So has the box been, sir," retorted the 
boy ; " and as it was my energy that is re- 
sponsible, I think I should return it to its 
former position. May I try again, sir ? " 

7 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

As Mr. Hargrave did not reply, Winfield 
once more took hold of the handle, and by 
sheer strength of back and arm, he lifted 
the end of the heavy box, and backing away 
with it, dragged it across the schoolroom to 
its former position. Mr. Hargrave was as- 
tonished ; that a lad of young Scott's age 
should possess such strength was most aston- 
ishing, and the schoolmaster congratulated 
himself that he was one who believed in 
peaceful suasion rather than any system of 
education that employed corporal punish- 
ment as one of its methods of instilling 
knowledge and discipline. 

During the next three or four years 
young Scott developed in more ways than 
one. Under the direction of the kindly 
Quaker, who, besides being a schoolmaster, 
was the county surveyor, he learned many 
things, but first and foremost, to control a 
tendency to quickness of temper that, added 
to his immense physical strength, might have 
got him into difficulties more than once. At 
the age of seventeen he stood six feet two, 

8 



SCHOOL-DAYS IN OLD VIRGINIA 

and although at this time not completely 
filled out, having outgrown much of his 
strength, he was still quick and agile. When 
he was sixteen he left Mr. Hargrave's 
school and went to study in Richmond 
with a Mr. James Ogilvie, a Scotchman 
of very brilliant attainments, who prepared 
young men for college, and had methods 
of his own that were generally success- 
ful. 

Mr. James Ogilvie was the scion of a 
noble Scotch family, and while possessing, 
as we have said, great brilliancy, was also 
erratic at times to the verge of madness. 
He also had histrionic ability of no mean 
order, and would recite at great length 
speeches written by himself, formed on the 
model of Cicero's orations, dressing himself 
in what he conceived to be an imitation of 
the great Roman — toga and sandals and 
parchment roll. Perhaps the fact that he 
was an opium-eater had something to do 
with his eccentricity, for shortly after his 
favorite pupil, Scott, passed his examina- 

9 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

tions, in 1805, to William and Mary College, 
Mr. Ogilvie gave up teaching to take up the 
career of an itinerant lecturer, which he gave 
up again to return to Scotland as a claimant 
for a peerage. 

Before Scott had entered college, how- 
ever, there came to him the chance to return 
in a measure some of the kindness he had 
received from his former teacher, Mr. Har- 
grave. The opportunity presented itself in 
this manner : He was on a visit to Peters- 
burg in his seventeenth year, just after he 
had left Mr. Hargrave's school, and was 
walking down the street of the village, when 
he heard a loud, angry voice and another in 
milder tones of remonstrance, coming from 
about the corner of one of the smaller streets. 
He reached the corner just in time to see a 
tall man aim a vicious blow that felled a 
smaller man to the ground. Instantly young 
Scott recognized in the aggressor a young 
farmer who had a great local reputation as 
both a brawler and bully, and whose strength 
was renowned for many miles in the country. 

10 




He landed a blow that lifted the bully fairly off his feet. 



SCHOOL-DAYS IN OLD VIRGINIA 

The man whom he had struck was none other 
than James Hargrave ! 

Instantly Scott sprang forward. Before 
the big fellow had time to do more than turn 
to meet him, he had landed a blow under his 
eye that lifted the bully fairly oif his feet and 
stretched him on the very spot where Mr. 
Hargrave had fallen a moment before. The 
big man struggled to his feet and made a 
half-drunken rush upon his young assailant. 
Scott prepared to meet the onslaught, and 
was gathering himself, when the Quaker 
rushed in between the two, and instead of 
helping his new champion, grasped him by 
the waist. 

** Desist, desist, friend Winfield. I am a 
man of peace," he shouted. While he was 
being thus held it was with difficulty that 
Scott could ward off the rain of blows that 
the bully aimed at him. Some of them fell 
upon the peacemaker, and it would have 
gone hard with both of them had not the 
boy by a violent effort pushed the school- 
master to one side, and at last, finding him- 

II 



THE GIANT OF THREE AVARS 

self unencumbered, mot his antagonist again 
with a straight, full arm blow upon the chin, 
that again stretched him on the ground. 
By this timo the Quaker's lamentations 

and remonstrances and his cries for peace had 
attracted some of the neighbors, and a crowd 
quickly gathered. The bullv. partly dazed, 
wished to continue the fight, and Scott, al- 
though it was his first encounter of the kind. 
was nothing loath. But the temper of the 
little mob had now been aroused ; when thev 
found that the young farmer had accused !Mr. 
Hargraye, whose reputation for honesty was 
beyond reproach, of running a dishonest line, 
and that he had attacked the Quaker without 
proyocation. they would haye taken the mat- 
ter out of Scott's hands entirely, for the bully 
was both feared and hated. But again the 
Quaker was all for peace, and he implored 
his former pupil to aid him. and rather re- 
luetamly Scott did so. By their combined 
ctTorts they sayed the big man— now reduced 
to a trembling and fully frightened coward — 
from further punishment. Together they 

12 



SCHOOL-DAYS IN OLD VIRGINIA 

escorted him down the street and some dis- 
tance out on the turnpike toward his home. 

In writing of this incident afterward, 
Winfield Scott speaks of his surprise at the 
strength of his own arm. But in the next 
few years he had still further increased in 
height and breadth and weight, until he was 
without doubt the biggest and perhaps the 
strongest man in his part of the State of 
Virginia, standing six feet five inches, and 
weighing in the neighborhood of two hun- 
dred and thirty pounds. 

A great sorrow came to him about this 
time, just before his eighteenth birthday, in 
the death of his mother. His tribute to her 
memory is one that touches every heart. 
Fie wrote of her : " My mother, that noble 
woman to whom I owe all." 

When nineteen Scott left college and 
went into the law office of David Robinson, 
Esq., in Petersburg. Mr. Robinson had 
been brought over from Scotland by the 
young man's grandfather some years before, 
as a tutor, but by the time Scott had en- 

13 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

tered his oftice he had won for himself an 
honorable position at the bar of his adopted 
State. 

For some time Scott remained a student 
in the law offices of Mr. Robinson. With 
him were two men who were destined to 
make their mark as lawyers and judges. 
Mr. Thomas RutTm and John F. May. In 
those days lawyers and judges followed 
what they called the circuit, courts being 
held in different towns and counties ; the 
members of the bar were forced to ride on 
horseback sometimes manv miles to attend 
cases and to follow up the interest of their 
clienrs. On his return from his first circuit- 
riding. Scott, like manv others, hastened to 
Richmond to witness the most important 
trial that had ever taken place up to that 
time in the historv of the nation. It was 
no less than the trial for high treason of 
Aaron Burr, who in 1S04 had killed, or. per- 
haps better, murdered, Alexander Hamilton 
in the famous duel in Weehawken. There 
is neither time nor space here to enter into 

14 



SCHOOL-DAYS IN OLD VIRGINIA 

a description of the trial nor to give a rea- 
son for its taking place. Burr, one of the 
ablest men in America, but one of the most 
unscrupulous and ambitious, had been ac- 
cused of treason in endeavoring to raise an 
armed force for the conquest of what is now 
Texas, then part of Mexico. It was the in- 
tention of the conspirators to place Burr at 
the head of the new Government, and the 
plot was nipped in the bud by the action 
of the Federal authorities. Burr, rendered 
very unpopular by the fact that he had 
killed a man who was in a measure the 
country's idol, had at first apparently little 
hope of escape, but so ably was he defended 
that he was acquitted — an acquittal that in- 
creased in a measure the bitter feelings that 
had been aroused against him and his fol- 
lowers. And upon this feeling and the fact 
that he had attended the trial hangs one of 
the most interesting episodes in our hero's 
history. 

Gathered at Richmond at this time were 
all the able lawyers and prominent legal men 

15 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

of the day, and here it was that the gigantic 
young Virginian met for the first time many 
men whose influence and friendship were to 
help him in the future. The preliminaries 
to the trial dragged through several weary 
weeks, and at the verdict the country was 
considerably disturbed, but quickly it quieted 
down, and after his exciting sojourn in Rich- 
mond, young Scott returned to Petersburg 
and took up again the even manner of his 
life. But although the law had much attrac- 
tion for him, he was not altogether sat- 
isfied, and soon an event was to happen 
that was to divert his mind into other chan- 
nels and to turn his ability into other direc- 
tions. 

With this change of thought and ambi- 
tion, his real career may be said to have be- 
gun. Very often mere accidents will prove 
to men who have before been doubting 
themselves that their doubts were quite 
correct, and opportunities, coming sudden- 
ly, have developed powers and faculties 
that they themselves had never been as- 

i6 



SCHOOL-DAYS IN OLD VIRGINIA 

sured were in their full possession. So it 
was with Scott, and to tell of how he found 
himself and came to his own will make a 
chapter that will be the proper beginning 
of the story of his life. 



17 



CHAPTER II 

T HE VOLUNTEER 

Early in the month of June, 1807, there 
occurred an incident that stirred the inhabit- 
ants of the United States to feelings of the 
deepest indignation. For a long time there 
had been loud complaints- and bitter denun- 
ciations of the English on account of their 
self-assumed "right of search" and the •* im- 
pressment " of so many American seamen 
into the royal service. The bitter feeling 
engendered by the War of the Revolution 
had not yet died away, and there were to be 
found many who prophesied that sooner or 
later the burning question of the freedom of 
the seas would be decided at the cannon's 
mouth. So, when the news came to the 
people's ears that the United States frigate 
Chesapeake had been stopped and fired into, 

18 



THE VOLUNTEER 

while unwarned and unprepared, by the Brit- 
ish frigate Leopard, and that three American 
citizens had been taken by force from her on 
the ground that they were British deserters, 
there was a great stir and the country was 
fired with indignation. 

On July 2d President Jefferson issued an 
Act of Embargo directed against British ves- 
sels of war, interdicting them from any use 
of American harbors or inland waters, and 
in order to enforce the act and to prevent 
the British from obtaining supplies, fresh 
provisions, or water, volunteers were called 
for, and hastily constructed troops of cavalry 
and regiments of infantry gathered along 
the seacoast. 

Young Winfield Scott was poring over 
some law papers in Mr. Robinson's office 
when the news was brought to him that vol- 
unteers were needed. In many long talks 
with his comrades. May and Ruffin, Scott 
had held that the only way to enforce re- 
spect for the rights of American seamen 
abroad was to fight for them, and now it 

19 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

seemed to him that the moment had come, 
and that the insult to the American flag 
should be avenged at once. It was very 
late in the evening and almost dark when 
the news came. Scott knew that twenty- 
five miles away a rendezvous of the Peters- 
burg troop of cavalry, which some weeks 
before had tendered its services in case of 
need, had been appointed. He knew also 
that a trooper of this same body of horse, 
a master joiner and a man of very tall stat- 
ure and heavy build, lay ill at his home, and 
therefore was unable to attend the sum- 
mons. He remembered also that the day 
before he had been informed that a Mr. 
Farrington, a farmer who lived not far from 
the outskirts of the town, had a remark- 
ably strong and heavy riding horse for sale. 
Within an hour he had visited the trooper's 
house, borrowed the uniform that with some 
difficulty he managed to squeeze into, and 
had arranged with the farmer for the pur- 
chase of his horse, and in two hours he was 
riding through the darkness over the rough 

20 



THE VOLUNTEER 

road to join the Petersburg cavalry as a vol- 
unteer. 

The next morning he reported and was 
accepted for duty, and despite the fact that 
he had not slept during the night and had 
been in the saddle for some hours, having 
walked his horse the entire distance in order 
to arrive with him fresh, he started with the 
troop to the eastward. In the course of 
time they arrived at their camp that was in 
a grove of trees about two miles from Lynn 
Haven Bay. 

At anchor about a mile from shore lay 
the British squadron under Sir Thomas 
Hardy, the brave commander in whose arms 
the great Nelson had expired. Every even- 
ing guards were posted by the Americans at 
the entrances to the little creeks and along 
the sandy shore, and a strict watch was kept 
in order to prevent the landing of any boat 
parties from the vessels that lay sullenly 
swinging at their anchors out in the tide-rip. 

No orders had been given to fire upon 
any approaching boat, and as no war had 

3 21 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

been declared, the posting of the coast-guards 
was looked upon as merely an act of warn- 
ing or precaution. Scott had been promoted 
to the position of lance-corporal — that is, a 
corporal for the nonce — and was in charge of 
a small picket near the mouth of one of the 
creeks. 

He was lying asleep in his blanket one 
evening, when suddenly he was awakened by 
a touch on the shoulder. Looking up, he 
saw that it was one of his old school friends, 
the son of a wealthy planter, for nearly a 
third of the Petersburg troop of cavalry were 
gentlemen of wealth and position, who 
owned their own horses, and in many cases 
had brought their own body-servants with 
them to the front. 

" Wake up, Scott," whispered the young 
man ; "there's a boat rowing up the river; 
you can hear the oars plainly from the beach." 

Hurriedly throwing off his blanket, Scott 
rushed to the water's edge. There plainly 
enough he could hear the rhythmic thrum of 
the oars, and, although it was so dark out on 

22 



THE VOLUNTEER 

the black waters that he could distinguish 
nothing, it was evident that the boat was 
headed up-stream. 

" We had better hail them and threaten 
to fire," suggested Scott's young friend 
breathlessly ; " they will soon be beyond the 
point." 

Scott checked him. 

" No, no," he said ; " the tide is running 
out, it will soon be daylight, and if they get 
beyond the point and above the mud-fiats 
they will not be able to return. We may 
then be able to capture them without diffi- 
culty, and who knows but that great things 
may come of it. Let them go on." 

Hurrying up the bank, Scott was just in 
time to prevent one of the sentries from 
hailing the boat out in the darkness. In 
fact, the man had been on the point of let- 
ting go his musket when Scott stopped 
him. Every one of the picket was now on 
the alert and gathered on the shore. The 
sound of rowing grew fainter and fainter as 
the boat went up the little river. It was low 

23 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

tide just about daybreak, and things hap- 
pened exactly as the young corporal had 
predicted. Daylight showed the English 
boat's crew of six men endeavoring to force 
their cutter through the mud, encouraged by 
the orders and execrations of two young 
midshipmen in the stern-sheets. Some of 
the men were already overboard, pushing on 
the gunwales, while the others were using 
their oars as punting poles. But it was to 
no purpose ; they could not move an inch. 
At a hail from shore they all scrambled 
back into the boat and sat there disconso- 
lately, for they were unarmed. A dozen 
young troopers, removing their boots and 
breeches, waded out into the black mud, and, 
with the sailors' assistance, turned the boat's 
prow toward the shore, and soon had her 
high and dry among the sedges. 

The two little midshipmen were escorted 
to where Scott stood on the higher bank. 
The elder approached and saluted gravely the 
gigantic figure that towered above him. But 
he checked himself before he had quite fin- 
24 



THE VOLUNTEER 

ished his salute, for he noticed that Scott 
wore the uniform of a common trooper. 

"Where is there an officer?" inquired 
the midshipman. " My name is Fox, of his 
Britannic Majesty's frigate Pallas, and this is 
Mr. Wilburough of the Leopard. We de- 
mand to see an officer." 

" My name is Scott," replied the young 
corporal genially, "and I belong to the 
Petersburg troop of volunteer cavalry." He 
extended his hand. " There is no officer 
present, and it happens that I am in com- 
mand here," he added. 

The midshipman at first drew himself up 
haughtily and pretended not to recognize 
Scott's extended hand. Then with some 
embarrassment he took it, for he felt that 
there was something rather different from 
the usual run of troopers in this tall young 
giant in a private's uniform. 

"What are you going to do with us?" 
he asked. " You can not detain us. We 
are not prisoners of war." 

" I trust, my dear sir," returned Scott, 
25 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

still smiling, ** that you will allow me to be 
your host for a little while — until my supe- 
riors are communicated with. It will be 
much better than sitting out in the broiling 
sun in a boat, for the tide will not be in for 
some hours, and you could not possibly re- 
gain your ship. The main camp is but a 
mile from here, and we will be about in time 
for breakfast." 

" I would like to see your superior officer 
at once," returned the midshipman, still with 
an assumption of dignity. 

" It will be very easily arranged," returned 
Scott. "The major is a great friend of 
mine, and I am sure that he will be delighted 
to meet you." 

The midshipmen did not understand this 
state of democracy that existed among the 
members of such a corps of volunteers. It 
generally takes some time for this state of 
affairs to wear away. Captains who have 
been entertained at the country houses of 
their troopers can not instantly forget the fact 
in the differences of military rank, and when 
26 



THE VOLUNTEER 

the corporal had reported what had occurred 
to his superior officer, the latter's reply was 
somewhat peculiar. To tell the truth, the 
major was rather perturbed. 

" Look here, Scott," he said, " I don't 
know what to do about this matter, and I 
wish you had not gone into it at all. I don't 
care to assume the responsibility, and cer- 
tainly you were not acting under my orders." 

" True enough," Scott replied ; " it was all 
my own idea, and if there is any blame it 
should come on me. I will assume the re- 
sponsibility, and I suggest that you allow me 
to keep these two young middies as my 
guests until we receive orders from head- 
quarters at Washington. We will see that 
they are well taken care of, and that their 
crew is well fed and looked after." 

" Do as you like," returned the major, 
whose military experience was, as can be im- 
agined, of the slightest ; ** I wash my hands of 
the matter." 

It was a very strange state of affairs, 
judging from their own standpoint, that the 

27 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

midshipmen found in the camp at Lynn 
Haven. Here they were entertained by or- 
dinary troopers at a broad table that was 
placed under the trees in a beautiful sylvan 
grove. Delicacies of all kinds were abun- 
dant ; here were the best of wines, and here 
were colored servants to wait upon and serve 
them, while the conversation was such as 
might pass at any gentleman's board. Scott 
had his two guests placed on either side of 
him, and before many minutes their restraint 
had worn away ; in fact, it would have been 
strange if they had not felt at ease, for seated 
about them were young lawyers, doctors, and 
merchants, and men who afterward became 
prominent in many ways. 

The sailors who composed the cutter's 
crew were being entertained in another part 
of the grove by some other troopers. Extra 
allowances of porter had been given them, 
and one of them had declared, " If this 
be war, blow my eyes, let me die thus fight- 



ing!" 



Before the end of the first meal, Mid- 
28 



THE VOLUNTEER 

shipman Fox had timidly looked up into 
Corporal Scott's face. 

" You will pardon me, sir," he said, " if I 
ask a question that may seem impertinent : 
Do all American private soldiers live like 
gentlemen ? " 

Scott laughed. 

" I suppose you would find, my dear sir, 
in this country, in case of war, many things 
that would not exist in England. We adapt 
ourselves easily to circumstances, and every 
man, I dare say, appreciates the best that he 
can get, when he can get it. Thus you find 
us now in comfortable circumstances ; but I 
think, sir, in defense of our rights and liber- 
ties you would find these same gentlemen 
gathered about this board enduring the hard- 
ships of a private soldier's life without a 
grumble or complaint." 

The young Englishman looked about 
him in wonderment, but said nothing. Here 
was a story to relate if ever he got back on 
board the Pallas that would make the gun- 
room wonder. 

29 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

For a number of days the midshipmen 
and their crew remained in the American 
camp, and then orders came from Washing- 
ton at last. 

Although the middies had broken the 
embargo that had been made known to Sir 
Thomas Hardy, as commander of the squad- 
ron, the Federalists, or the peace party, were 
very strong in Washington, and beyond all 
doubt the United States was not prepared 
for war. So it was necessary to temporize, 
and as Scott wrote afterward in referring to 
this time and occasion: "Notwithstanding 
the long series of British wrongs, capped by 
the recent outrage (the Leopard-Chesapeake 
affair), Mr. Jefferson hesitated to take open 
and direct measure of retaliation. After de- 
liberations and delay, orders came to restore 
the prisoners to Sir Thomas Hardy with the 
imbecile admonition usual in such cases. 
Take care not to do so again.'' 

Very soon matters were in a train of set- 
tlement, diplomatically speaking, in regard 
to the Chesapeake and Leopard trouble. 

30 



THE VOLUNTEER 

The Federalists for the time had gained the 
day, and peace was well assured. The militia 
and the volunteers were disbanded, and with 
many hundreds of other embryo soldiers 
Scott returned to his former peaceful voca- 
tion. But, as he said himself, he had heard 
the bugle and the drum, and it was the music 
that awoke ambition. By accident there had 
come to him the directing force. He had 
seen the sign-post on the roadway of his life 
that pointed unerringly the direction that his 
thoughts and footsteps would follow. Many 
times during the next few months he thought 
of the pleasures and the excitement of the 
field, and, although he had never heard a 
shot fired in anger and had no idea what real 
war meant, he began to think seriously of 
abandoning the pen for the sword. So he 
took up reading upon military subjects, and 
read indefatigably such books as he could 
easily lay hand to. 

Intending, however, to follow for a time 
the practise of law in South Carolina, he 
traveled southward to Columbia on the way 

31 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

to Charleston, where he expected to take up 
his future residence. He hoped by stopping 
at Columbia to succeed in a petition that he 
had presented to the Legislature, allowing 
him to dispense with the usual require- 
ment of a twelve months' previous residence 
before taking his final examinations — a re- 
quirement that was generally insisted upon 
in the case of any applicant being a non- 
resident of the State. In this petition, how- 
ever, he failed, and thus he found himself, 
having cheerfully accepted the position, again 
a student in a law office, this time working 
under Judge Wilds, a South Carolinian and 
a man whose promising career was cut short 
by his early death at the age of forty-three. 

It was Christmas eve of 1807 when Scott 
arrived at Charleston, and there he found 
that the prospect of hostilities with England 
had flared up again. New wrongs of Ameri- 
can seamen had come to light. The British 
still persisted in their right of search, and 
even many Federalists had now joined forces 
with the party that strongly demanded war. 

32 



THE VOLUNTEER 

It was believed in the South that the embargo 
on all American shipping that had just been 
laid was but the immediate forerunner of a 
war manifesto on the part of Congress. 

Scott was strong in the opinion that his 
country and England would soon be at each 
other's throats, and immediately abandoning 
all his preparations to follow the law, he cast 
the die, and without seeking any advice upon 
the subject, set sail in a vessel bound for 
New York, intending to proceed at once to 
Washington in order to seek a commission 
in some marching regiment. A bill had 
been presented in Congress just at this time 
authorizing the trebling of the American 
regular forces, but after a few weeks of ex- 
citement " peace at any price " again gained 
the ascendency, and war was yet postponed. 
But Scott had by this time reached Wash- 
ington, and finding his friend the Hon. 
William B. Giles was there, he without 
difficulty secured an audience with the Pres- 
ident and the Secretary of War. 

The day that Scott called upon Mr. Jef- 
33 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

ferson he found him seated with Dr. Mitchell, 
of New York, and Dr. Walter Jones, of Vir- 
ginia. They were two members of Congress 
who were incessant talkers, and, as Scott re- 
cords, his friend Mr. Giles was also dis- 
tinguished for his colloquial powers. In a 
sitting of thirty minutes but two monologues 
were delivered, the other two personages 
being in a state of forced silence, although 
they were endeavoring here and there to get 
in a word. Mr. Jefferson, who was not a 
great talker, and who- had not succeeded in 
successfully interrupting the others, at last 
turned to Scott. 

" Well, young man," he said pleasantly, 
" what have you seen in Washington ? Have 
you visited the Capitol ? Whom have you 
heard speak ? " 

Without hesitation Scott replied : " I was, 
sir, in the House yesterday, and heard a part 
of Barent Gardeneir's six hours' speech on 
the embargo." 

Now, Mr. Gardeneir, a member from the 
city of New York, was very bitterly opposed 

34 



THE VOLUNTEER 

to the policy of the administration, and he 
had handled Mr. Jefferson with great severity 
in this same speech to which Scott had re- 
ferred, and this the President knew well. 
But the young man's frankness did not 
prejudice him against him in the least. Dr. 
Mitchell, who was then talking, was a great 
friend of Gardeneir's, and to him Mr. Jeffer- 
son turned. 

" Doctor," said the President, " I have 
just thought of an object to which to com- 
pare the House of Representatives, sir. It 
is like the chimney to our dwelling — it car- 
ries off the smoke of the party, which other- 
wise might stifle the nation." 

The end of the interview was favorable to 
Scott's hopes, and he was promised by the 
President a captain's commission if the Aug- 
mentation Bill became a law. So in the 
spring of 1808, under the strength of this 
promise, Scott returned once more to Peters- 
burg, and began the same circuit that he had 
made the year previous. In less than two 
months the welcome news came to him that 

35 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

he had received his appointment and that it 
had been confirmed, and at last the impor- 
tant envelope containing his commission was 
placed in his hands. Hastily tearing it open, 
he had found that he was appointed a cap- 
tain of light or flying artillery under the date 
of May 3, 1808. His orders were to re- 
cruit his company in the neighborhood, and 
when complete to proceed to Norfolk. In 
less than five months the roster of the com- 
pany was filled and the men had received a 
month's instructions at the hands of able drill- 
masters. In the meantime Scott had in- 
creased in every way by constant application 
his own knowledge, and was well fitted to 
lead his men. The majority of them were 
younger farmers' sons and mechanics, and 
their age, like that of their youthful com- 
mander, was under twenty-five. But they 
were of good stock and a hardy fighting an- 
cestry and loyal to the core. At last our 
hero felt that he was launched upon his real 
career, and that his life work was before him. 



36 



CHAPTER III 

FROM PEACE TO WAR 

February 4, 1809, Scott with his com- 
pany embarked from Norfolk on an old 
slow-sailing hulk of a vessel bound for New 
Orleans. The passage was a most tedious 
and disagreeable one ; the captain of the ves- 
sel proved inadequate to the difficulties of 
his position, and instead of laying his course 
through the narrow passages of the Bahama 
Islands, he proceeded by the only way he 
knew, which was around Cuba, skirting the 
southern shore. Thirty-five days they were 
at sea before they came to the mouth of 
the Mississippi, and here, through stupidity 
and bad seamanship, the captain ran the 
vessel ashore and she lost her rudder. It 
was not until April ist that she dropped 
anchor off New Orleans. 
4 37 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

In order to explain a rather unlooked- 
for and disagreeable passage in our young 
hero's history that took place within the 
next few months, it is necessary, perhaps, 
to glance quickly at the condition of affairs 
that existed in the army and in military cir- 
cles at this time. Many of the older officers, 
through lack of active service, had fallen into 
bad habits. It was an age of great intem- 
perance and hard drinking, and military 
men when not under an exacting disci- 
pline are apt to show evidence of any pre- 
vailing folly or custom. The new appoint- 
ments to the army had mainly been for 
political reasons, and as party feeling ran 
very high at this time in the army and 
through the country at large, there were 
political appointments for party reasons 
alone, and generally they were very bad. 
Scott found the condition of affairs on the 
Mississippi not in the least to his liking. 

Brigadier-General Wilkinson, late com- 
mander of the lower Mississippi, had at 
one time been a friend and close adherent 

38 



FROM PEACE TO WAR 

of Burr, who, as we remember, was tried 
for high treason ; but at that time Wilkinson 
had deserted his friend and turned what 
was practically state's evidence, or informer, 
against him. Scott in his impetuous way 
once expressed his opinion upon traitors in 
general and Wilkinson in particular. It 
was just at the time that the latter had been 
superseded in his position by General Wade 
Hampton, who thus was Scott's command- 
ing officer. But Wilkinson, through the in- 
fluence of important friends, brought charges 
against the young artillery captain for con- 
duct unbecoming an officer in speaking dis- 
respectfully of his superior. With the aid 
of his henchmen he also trumped up a 
charge that was proved groundless, in which 
he accused young Scott of holding back 
money due his men as pay. The latter 
charge at the trial was dismissed, but Scott 
was found guilty of unofficerlike conduct for 
speaking frankly what many people knew 
and kept to themselves. 

At the time that the charges were 
39 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

brought he was disgruntled with the service 
and was seriously thinking of abandoning 
it and returning to the law. But the fact 
that he would be soon brought to trial de- 
cided him to remain, notwithstanding the 
fact that on the first account, as we have 
said, he had been found guilty and sen- 
tenced to twelve months' suspension. Nine 
months of the sentence, however, were re- 
mitted by the court. 

In 1810 he returned home to Virginia 
and took up his residence with a Mr. Leigh, 
a well-known lawyer of Petersburg, with 
whom he lived for some eight months, pur- 
suing his studies upon military subjects and 
doing much reading in the fields of history 
and general literature. 

That he did not intend to abandon the 
army, however, was proved conclusively by 
a letter that he wrote at this time to a 
friend of his, Mr. Lewis Edwards, of Wash- 
ington. It was dated at Petersburg on June 
I ith, and ran as follows : 

" Of myself — that personage that fills 
40 



FROM PEACE TO WAR 

so large a space in every man's own imag- 
ination, and so small a one in the imagina- 
tion of every other — I can say but little ; 
perhaps less would please you more. Since 
my return to Virginia, my time has been 
passed in easy transitions from pleasure to 
study, from study to pleasure ; in my gaiety 
forgetting the student, in the student for- 
getting my gaiety. I have generally been 
in the office of my friend Mr. Leigh, 
though not unmindful of the studies con- 
nected with my present profession ; but you 
will easily conceive my military ardor has 
suffered abatement. Indeed, it is my de- 
sign, as soon as circumstances will permit, 
to throw the feather out of my cap and 
resume it in my hand. Yet, should war 
come at last, my enthusiasm will be re- 
kindled ; and then, who knows but that I 
may yet write my history with my sword ? " 
In the autumn of this same year (1811) 
it looked as if war with England could not 
be much longer postponed, and Scott with 
four other officers made the long journey to 

41 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

Baton Rouge by land, from whence he pro- 
ceeded with his command into Georgia, 
stopping at a place on the Ocmulgee River 
that was then the Indian frontier, and close 
to the stamping-ground of the powerful 
tribe of Creeks. Here he served as judge- 
advocate on a court-martial and on active 
service attracted attention by his painstaking 
care and the ability with which he handled 
and controlled his men. 

In the winter of 1811-12 he was from 
time to time on the staff of Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Hampton at New Orleans, and while 
there he saw the arrival at the city on 
Christmas eve of the first steam-vessel that 
had ever plowed the waters of the Queen of 
Rivers. She arrived from Pittsburg and 
attracted a tremendous amount of atten- 
tion. 

Again it looked as if there would be 
no war, in spite of the threatening aspect 
of matters a few months previously, and 
Scott embarked on May 20, 18 12, from 
New Orleans, for Washington, via Balti- 
42 



FROM PEACE TO WAR 

more. It was a long and stormy passage, 
but at last they sighted the capes and were 
making into the entrance of the bay when 
they passed close to a British frigate lying 
off the bar. It was lucky that they were 
not two hours later, for before they got into 
the quiet waters they met a Hampton pilot- 
boat making out to sea under a cloud of 
canvas. This was June 20th, and the pilot- 
boat was bearing despatches to the British 
frigate, despatches of the utmost impor- 
tance — in fact, no less than a communication 
from Mr. Mansfield, the British minister at 
Washington, in which he said that Congress 
had declared war two days before against 
Great Britain. The pilot claimed that he 
knew nothing of the contents of the de- 
spatch he was carrying. 

Scott wrote about this moment as fol- 
lows, when he referred to the fact that they 
had passed the frigate safely : ** What a 
happy escape for me ! Had the New Or- 
leans packet been captured, I might, as 
prisoner, have chafed and been forgotten 

43 



THE GIANT OF THREE WAKS 

for months, perhaps years, in a British 
prison." 

The vessel ran aground off North Point, 
about sixteen miles from Baltimore, and 
Scott and several of the passengers, im- 
patient for news, landed in a small boat, 
and started on the long walk to the city. 
Before they had proceeded very far they 
came to the camp of a militia regiment, 
where Scott, being a regular officer and in 
full uniform, was received with great ac- 
claim. The declaration of war had just 
been received, brought in by a mounted 
man about the time that Scott and his party 
reached the camp, and the young captain 
was requested to read it to the assembled 
soldiers. Mounted on a table, he read the 
words which meant so much to the listeners. 
At the end there was furious cheering and 
much rejoicing that at last the country was 
to assert itself, for the hatred of the British 
imposition had now become so wide-spread 
that the feeble voice of the peace party was 
frowned down completely. 
44 



FROM PEACE TO WAR 

A farmer who had come in from the 
neighborhood in a double-seated gig offered 
to take Scott and two of his companions to 
Baltimore. The man, however, had been 
rejoicing in more ways than one, and was so 
much under the influence of liquor that he 
overturned the gig no less than three times. 
He refused, however, to let any one handle 
the reins until Scott had shaken him so 
that his teeth chattered, and deposited him 
on the floor of the gig under the back 
seat, whereupon the young officer himself 
took up the reins and drove on to the 
town. Here he found everything in great 
excitement ; crowds of people were on the 
street corners discussing the news, and 
there was every evidence that the war was 
popular. 

Meeting one of his old friends, he was 
informed of the good news that, owing most 
probably to General Hampton's influence, 
a double promotion awaited him, and that 
he had been commissioned a lieutenant- 
colonel at the age of twenty-six. 

45 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

Major - General Hampton, who was 
Scott's friend and patron, was a man of 
quick temper, although generous, intrepid, 
and wise. Scott pays him many tributes, 
but confesses that he was of irritable nerves, 
and consequently often harsh and sometimes 
unjust. But in every case where his temper 
got the best of him General Hampton was 
eager in acknowledging his wrong and 
anxious to make amends. Scott met him 
in Washington, and together they visited 
Dr. Eustis, the Secretary of War. Between 
General Hampton and the doctor there had 
passed some rather unpleasant official corre- 
spondence, and as they approached the office, 
General Hampton betrayed some evidences 
of nervousness. When the general's name 
was brought in to the Secretary, the latter 
came forward at once with both hands ex- 
tended in a friendly fashion and in an eager 
welcome. But, to Scott's surprise, the gen- 
eral placed both hands behind him, and 
bowed coldly. Dr. Eustis for the moment 
was taken aback, but quickly recovering him- 

46 



FROM PEACE TO WAR 

self, he requested that his visitors be seated, 
and to all outside appearances the conver- 
sation was carried on in a friendly manner. 
When Scott and the general rose to go Sec- 
retary Eustis ignored the extended hand of 
General Hampton, and, imitating his former 
manner, bowed coldly, as the general had 
done on entering the office. 

General Hampton was furious. His rage 
was so great that he was positively speech- 
less. Nothing that Scott could do would 
take his mind from the affront that he 
thought he had received. No sooner did he 
arrive at the room at the inn at which he 
was stopping than he despatched a messen- 
ger for General D. R. Williams, a member 
of Congress from South Carolina, and im- 
mediately he wrote a challenge, requesting 
Dr. Eustis to appoint his friend, and to meet 
him in mortal combat. It was a strange 
side-light upon the customs of the day ! Two 
men, long past middle age, occupying the 
highest position, talking of shooting one 
another down in cold blood at a time when 

47 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

the country was in the utmost need of their 
services, and all oyer what would now be 
merely a smiling matter ! Luckily, both 
General Williams and the friend whom Dr. 
Eustis selected, Mr, Hamilton, the Secre- 
tary of the Nayy, were sensible and cool- 
headed. 

At a meeting at which Scott was present 
the whole affair was discussed thoroughly, 
and Scott, knowing so well the temper of 
his commanding officer, made a suggestion 
that was adopted. It was that the general 
should call again, and, in the presence of 
the only two witnesses, Scott himself and 
the chief clerk of the department, the gen- 
eral should come forward toward the Sec- 
retary with both hands extended, and that 
the Secretary should accept them in a 
friendly fashion. It was carried out to the 
letter, and the two men met, and, silently, 
with tears in their eyes, like two contrite 
schoolboys, clasped hands. We must smile 
as we think of the picture, and yet Scott, 
standing there and realizing how narrowly a 

48 



FROM PEACE TO WAR 

tragedy had been averted, could not help his 
eyes becoming moist also. 

A very important command was now 
given to the young lieutenant-colonel. He 
was ordered to proceed to Philadelphia to 
gather together the companies of his regi- 
ment, and to prepare them for the field and 
the camp of instruction. But recruiting 
advanced very slowly, and, chafing at the 
delay in getting into active service, Scott 
petitioned that he be relieved and be sent to 
join one of the divisions that were gathering 
for active operations along the Canadian 
frontier. At last he received his orders to 
proceed to Niagara, where he reported to 
Brigadier-General Alexander Smyth, near 
Buffalo. 

At this time Lieutenant Elliott, of the 
navy, was fitting up a small squadron a little 
below a place called Black Rock, in an inlet 
sheltered behind Squaw Island, and four 
days after Scott had arrived at his new post 
he was under fire for the first time in that 
brilliant action where the American boarded 

49 



THE GIANT OF THREE WAKS 

and cut out two small vessels of war, the 
Caledonia and the Detroit, the latter being 
one of the vessels captured by the British at 
the time of Hull's surrender. 

Elliott was successful in his exploit, and 
boarded both vessels under the fire of the 
British guns early in the morning. The 
Detroit, however, drifted down the stream, 
and grounded on Squaw Island, where the 
Americans abandoned her, and she was again 
taken possession of by the enemy. But 
they were driven out .time and again by the 
forces on the mainland under Scott, and at 
last the vessel was set on fire, and was 
burned before the British could work her off 
the bar. For Scott's courage and bravery 
at this time too great praise could not be 
found, and Lieutenant Smyth complimented 
him upon the gallant manner in which he 
had led and commanded the small force at 
his disposal. 



50 



CHAPTER IV 

THE BATTLE AT QUEENSTOWN 

The motley little army which had been 
gathered on the south shore of the Niagara 
River was composed for the most part of 
raw and inexperienced militiamen, many 
of whom, as it subsequently proved, were 
serving against their will. Under Major- 
General Stephen Van Rensselaer, who had 
about 2,500 of these state troops under his 
orders, they were marshaled on the Ameri- 
can side of the Niagara River, and here were 
joined on the ist of October by 450 regulars 
under the command of Colonels Fenwick 
and Christy and Major Mullaney. For a 
long time nothing had been talked about 
but the invasion of Canada. The fort and 
village of Queenstown was directly across 

51 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

the river, and in plain sight of the American 
shore. 

It was the intention of Colonel Van 
Rensselaer to cross in small boats, and to 
attack the British who occupied the fort. 
Late in the evening of the 12th of October, 
Colonel Scott arrived by a forced march 
through the mud and rain at Schlosser, 
about one mile from the falls and about 
eight from Lewiston. He hastened at once 
to the latter place, and volunteered his serv- 
ices to General Van. Rensselaer, but the 
latter declined them, on the ground that 
every arrangement had been made. But he 
was permitted to bring his regiment up to 
the town and act as circumstances might 
require. Having only had but two hours' 
rest, the detachment started again through 
the heavy roads. All night they marched, 
and about four o'clock in the morning ar- 
rived at the town and placed their guns in 
position to fire across the river at the British 
fort, which was on the crown of the bluff. 
Meantime affairs had not gone well with 

52 



THE BATTLE AT QUEENSTOWN 

the forces under General Van Rensselaer ; 
although a brave and impetuous leader, he 
was a very jealous man, and wished to take 
upon himself the credit, if there was to be 
any credit, of the whole affair. The flat- 
boats that had been collected were few and 
inadequate to the demands made upon them. 
The current of the river was strong, and as 
the boats crossed they were subjected to 
a heavy and mcessant fire. General Van 
Rensselaer's son was badly wounded before 
he reached the English side ; Colonel Fen- 
wick was also badly hit, and the detachment 
that he commanded were made prisoners as 
soon as they touched shore. 

Christy also was slightly wounded, and 
the American militia, seeing how ill the 
regulars, who were the first to attempt to 
cross, had fared, lost heart entirely, especial- 
ly when the news came that all of the com- 
manding officers had been disabled. But 
the brave men who had already gained foot- 
hold on the British side, about 300 in number, 
being detachments of the Sixth and the Thir- 
3 53 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

teenth Infantry, a company of the Twenty- 
third, and some light artillery with one 
6-pounder, had already rushed the heights and 
taken the main battery in the east end of the 
village. 

Scott left his two juniors in charge of his 
own guns, for there were no boats large or 
strong enough to ferry them across the river, 
and calling for volunteers, a call which was 
responded to by some twenty men, he and 
his adjutant Roach succeeded in crossing 
the stream and landiiig on the stony beach 
under the protecting bank. 

Rushing up over the path that the Ameri- 
cans had climbed but a few minutes before, 
Scott found a strange condition of affairs. 
The militia general, Wadsworth, had crossed 
without orders, and was then the senior officer 
in charge. The Americans had occupied the 
battery previously held by the British, who 
had spiked the guns before they had fallen 
back. 

Under the British General Brock, the 
lieutenant of Upper Canada and the van- 

54 



THE BATTLE AT QUEENSTOWN 

quisher of Hull, the enemy had occupied a 
large stone house near the water's edge, but 
just beyond gunshot. It was known, how- 
ever, that the large British garrison at Fort 
George, only eight miles away, would soon 
be on the march ; and beside this the Indian 
allies of the British were gathering from every 
quarter, time was short, and immediate ac- 
tion was needed. 

It is pleasant to have to report, in view 
of the succeeding circumstances, that two or 
three hundred of the New York militia had 
of their own volition seized some of the 
boats and crossed the river to the aid of the 
regulars. They had gathered in the fort or 
were dispersed in small bodies along the 
western bank. Scott found General Wads- 
worth in quite a dilemma as to his next 
move. He was a brave and able man, but 
entirely without military training or experi- 
ence. It was with great relief that he saw 
the huge figure of Scott climbing the breast- 
works of the little fort. Rushing forward, 
Wadsworth hailed him gladly. 

55 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

" Colonel Scott," he cried, " I tender the 
command to you. You know best profes- 
sionally what ought to be done. I am here 
for the honor of my country and that of the 
New York militia." 

It was the first time that the two officers 
had met, but he seemed to recognize the 
gifts that Scott possessed, that of instilling 
confidence and commanding men. 

There was a lull now in the action, and 
the young commander took a survey of affairs. 
He found that there "were under him 350 
regulars and 250 volunteers from the militia, 
whom he placed under the direction of Wads- 
worth and Colonel Stranahan. With Cap- 
tain Totten, of the regular army, Scott placed 
his troops in such a position that he was 
not only able to receive the enemy, but to 
cover the ferry, for he expected every minute 
to be reenforced by the whole of the militia 
that were gathered across the river at Lewis- 
ton. 

The interval of rest did not last long. 
From the stone house the British, led by 

56 



THE BATTLE AT QUEENSTOWN 

Brock and his secretary, Colonel McDonald, 
in person, issued on a run in a gallant charge 
to attempt to regain the position, for they 
saw that the American reenforcements were 
not arriving, and that the boats had ceased 
crossing the river. 

Brock's forces consisted of two companies 
of the Forty-ninth foot and some of the York 
infantry. They had been joined by 200 or 
300 Indians, who had hastened in from the 
woods and had announced that the main body 
of troops under General Sheaffe were hurry- 
ing on from Fort George to their support. 

The gallant sortie was met by such a 
withering fire from Scott's forces that they 
immediately fell back, and the brave General 
Brock and McDonald were killed. Scott 
was standing near one of the angles of the 
fort when he saw them both fall, for they 
had in their mad rush reached a point within 
100 yards of the American line before they 
were beaten back. After the destructive 
volley, when the enemy were in retreat, he 
ordered *' Cease firing," and sent forward 

57 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

some of his men to where the officers lay. 
Afterward, when some of the British soldiers 
came forward with an improvised stretcher, 
they were escorted safely part of the way back 
to the shelter of the woods. 

And now another lull ensued ; but it was 
soon broken, for the Indians, now increased 
in numbers to almost 600, creeping in among 
the trees and log fences, commenced a sep- 
arate action, principally directed against the 
picket-line that Scott had thrown forward 
toward the town. But every attempt the 
warriors made to advance in force was beaten 
back. 

Scott, on account of his tall and command- 
ing figure, had again and again been picked 
out by the red-skinned riflemen. He seemed 
careless of any danger, and his escapes were 
simply marvelous. On one occasion when 
he had exposed himself no less than five rifle- 
bullets struck simultaneously within a few 
inches of his person. Totten and Wadsworth 
implored him to take shelter. 

" Colonel," cried the latter, who several 
58 



THE BATTLE AT QUEENSTOWN 

times had tried to interpose his own body in 
order to shelter the leader, "they will bag 
you yet ! " But Scott's only idea now and 
his sole anxiety was to receive the reenforce- 
ments from the eastern shore. If only half 
or a third of them could be ferried across be- 
fore the troops from Fort George could ar- 
rive, he knew he could hold the position and 
save the day. 

" Where are the reenforcements ?" he kept 
asking. For now moving bodies of troops 
could be seen coming from the westward and 
the Indian fire had recommenced. He had 
sent over two officers and some men in the 
only available boat to inquire from the 
American side the reason for the delay. 
Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer, w^ho lay 
badly wounded in four places, could not ex- 
plain it ; but soon a message came from the 
general, his father. One of those strange 
panics that sometimes seize undisciplined and 
inexperienced troops had taken place among 
the militia forces at Lewiston. According 
to the law under which their military forma- 

59 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

tion was organized and maintained, they were 
to serve only " in defense of their country," 
and were not compelled to take part in the 
invasion of an enemy's. Panic-stricken by 
the carnage they had witnessed taking place 
in the boats at the time that the regulars had 
crossed, and animated, no doubt, by the cow- 
ardly example of a few officers who held dif- 
ferent political ideas from those of General 
Van Rensselaer, they refused to move. In 
despair. General Van Rensselaer wrote a note 
to Scott that read as follows : " I have passed 
through my camp. Not a regiment, not a 
company is willing to join you. Save your- 
selves by retreat if you can. Boats shall be 
sent to receive you." 

And now the thin picket-line that had 
held its own, although at considerable loss, 
against the desultory attacks of the Indians 
besran to fall back. The survivors clambered 
over the hastily constructed works that pro- 
tected the rear of the fort. Scott was in 
despair. His anger against the militia was 
overwhelming, but yet there was the danger 
60 



THE BATTLE AT QUEENSTOWN 

of further disaster to the American army. 
The disgrace of General Hull's surrender, 
when he had given up, almost without a 
blow, his entire army, still rankled in every 
one's mind, and the position was indeed des- 
perate. Retreat was impossible ; there was 
but one boat that would hold at the best 
some 40 men for nearly 500. The forces 
under General Sheaffe were now in plain 
sight, advancing very slowly, and the sus- 
pense was very telling upon men's nerves. 
A few of the volunteers from the militia 
had already started for the shore of the 
river, and two or three had discarded their 
arms and were attempting to swim their 
way back to the American shore. 

The young commander was endeavoring 
to unspike the British guns, and was showing 
some of the infantrymen how best to go 
about it, when word was brought to him 
that the British advance had actually begun. 
Some few of the troops had followed the 
example of the militiamen and started 
for the bank. Scott rallied them, and by 

61 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

word and example and by sometimes threat- 
ening them with his words and animating 
them by his imperious tones, he succeeded in 
getting them to turn about. Noticing that 
the main body of the British had not yet 
come within firing distance, he actually 
led about 200 of his followers out of 
the fort in a counter-charge against the first 
line of the enemy, composed principally of 
rallied portions of the Forty-second and 
York, his old antagonists. He drove them 
back, and some of his- men, following to the 
edges of the wood, were killed and scalped 
by lurking Indians. Once more all were 
gathered within the captured fort. 

And now Sheaffe's forces were seen slowly 
marching just beyond musket-range and de- 
ploying for the attack, while the Indians in 
large numbers could be seen running through 
the woods north and south making for the 
river-bank in order to prevent retreat. But 
retreat was impossible — there were no boats. 
Twice had it been proposed to Scott to send 
out flags of truce, but yet he hoped that he 
62 



THE BATTLE AT QUEENSTOWN 

might be able to hold his position, and that 
the sight of his doing so might thus encour- 
age the recalcitrant soldiers on the American 
shore, from which every operation on the 
Canadian side was in full sight. 

Owing to the losses already incurred, the 
defenders of the fort were now reduced to 
less than 300. 

** What shall we do ? " asked Captain 
Totten. 

"We will think of surrender, sir, only 
when fighting is impossible," was Scott's 
reply. 

The enclosed space that his little com- 
mand occupied was not more than 300 
feet in length by less than half in width. 
His entire force was gathered there with 
the exception of two small outposts a 
few hundred yards away on the river-bank, 
that were now firing upon the encroaching 
Indians. Scott mounted a log and, doffing 
his great cocked hat, addressed the brave 
little band about him : 

" The enemy's balls," said he, " begin to 
63 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

thin our ranks. His numbers are over- 
whelming. In a moment the shock must 
come, and there is no retreat. We are in 
the beginning of a national war. Hull's sur- 
render is to be redeemed. Let us then die 
arms in hand. Our country demands the 
sacrifice. The example will not be lost. 
The blood of the slain will make heroes of 
the living. Those who follow will avenge 
our fall and their country's wrongs. Who 
dare to stand ? " 

" ALL ! " was the answering cry. 

General Sheaffe, after much slow ma^ 
neuvering, had now gained the position 
that he thought most advantageous for the 
attack. The reason for his slowness and 
caution was the fact that he overestimated 
the number of the defenders of the fort, for 
he deemed it impossible that a small body of 
men could make such a determined show of 
resistance. Now, however, he had divided 
his forces into three parts, the main body 
directed mainly at the rear of the fortifica- 
tion, and two strong detachments on the 

64 



THE BATTLE AT QUEENSTOWN 

flanks. Everywhere about were the Indians, 
all armed with rifles, fighting as individuals, 
and anxious to participate in the massacre 
which seemed inevitable. 

As they came forward they were met by 
a galling fire from the defenders ; but now 
that catastrophe, the worst that can happen, 
in battle began to be felt by the Americans. 
Ammunition was running low, and in some 
companies hardly enough powder for a score 
of rounds remained. Again the men began 
to drift away toward the river. It was im- 
possible to stop them and there was no use 
in remaining longer. It became a case of 
save yourself if you can. The outpost to the 
north had been surrounded by the Indians, 
and all but three of its members had been 
tomahawked or slain with the knife. The 
men scrambled down the bank to the pebbly 
beach, but there were no boats there to re- 
ceive them. A complete annihilation of the 
hardy little band seemed inevitable. In 
order to save those who were yet living and 
to preserve the lives of the wounded, Scott 

65 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

had sent forward two men with flags of truce 
and notes addressed to the commandins: 
officer of the British forces, indicating his 
wilHngness to surrender and claiming pro- 
tection. But from neither flag was anything 
heard, the Indians having killed the bearers 
of the despatches before they had gone a 
hundred paces into the woods. 

At last Scott himself determined to en- 
deavor to reach the British general in person, 
for now the savage war-whoops and the cries 
of poor helpless victims resounded from all 
sides, and the fort was occupied by the main 
body of troops that had advanced from Fort 
George. 

Calling Captain Totten to his side and 
beckoning Captain Gibson to accompany 
him, Scott, having tied his handkerchief to 
his sword-blade, followed by the two officers, 
walked up the beach. They kept close to 
the water's edge, endeavoring to shield them- 
selves under the steep side of the bluffs. 
Time and again thev were fired upon by the 
Indians, onlv a few hundred feet away, but 
66 



THE BATTLE AT QUEENSTOWN 

none of the party was hit. They seemed to 
bear charmed lives. At last the young colo- 
nel, who was leading, came to a road cut 
through the bank, leading up from the river 
to the village of Queenstown. If he could 
once gain the shelter of the houses he 
hoped he would find protection with the 
troops that he knew were sheltered there. 
So he increased his speed, Totten and Gib- 
son following close behind him. Up the 
road they went, and had almost gained the 
slope when suddenly two Indians sprang 
from the bushes and confronted them. 
Scott pointed to the handkerchief on his 
sword and attempted to declare his purpose. 
But the warriors, who had already discharged 
their pieces, sprang forward, with their 
knives in one hand and their tomahawks in 
the other. Gibson and Totten drew their 
swords. The largest Indian, leaping for- 
ward, missed the blow with his hatchet and 
caught Scott's sword-arm in an attempt to 
wrench the weapon from him. Scott hurled 
him back. At this moment, with loud cries, 

67 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

three other Indians were seen rushing to 
their tribesmen's assistance through the un- 
derbrush. It looked black indeed for the 
three officers ; but at this instant the red 
coat of a British captain, followed by a 
sergeant and half a dozen men, was seen at 
the top of the bank on the left. Without 
hesitation the officer, followed by most of 
his little command, leaped down the height 
of ten or twelve feet and, landing in the 
soft sand and earth, rushed to the Ameri- 
cans' side. 

The Indians, discomfited and angered, 
drew off, and Scott and his two companions 
were conducted up the road and brought 
into the presence of General Sheaflfe. 

To him Scott surrendered the whole force 
with the honors of war. At once the red- 
coats were dispersed in all directions, driving 
back their savage allies and gathering to- 
gether the scattered and dispirited Ameri- 
cans who were hiding for their lives. The 
prisoners were brought together in the fort 
that but a few minutes before they had been 
68 



THE BATTLE AT QUEENSTOWN 

so bravely defending. The entire force that 
Scott surrendered was, as he supposed, about 
300 men ; to be exact, the actual fighting 
had been done by 139 regulars and 154 
volunteers. But, to his intense chagrin, 
scores upon scores of other militiamen were 
brought in subsequently. They had crossed 
the river, but had never joined the command 
upon the bluff, and were found concealed 
among the rocks and hiding-places along the 
banks to the northward. The total loss to 
the Americans in the battle of Queenstown 
was over 900 men. The fierceness of the 
fighting can easily be understood when it is 
seen that over 100 were killed outright. 

Unknown to Scott, about 200 men 
under Major Mullaney had been taken early 
in the day, having drifted with the current 
directly under the enemy's guns, where they 
were powerless to protect themselves. There 
are many stories told by eye-witnesses of 
the young commanders marvelous escapes 
during the height of the battle. He was 
dressed in full uniform, wearing even his 
6 69 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

epaulets, and his tall stature and great breadth 
made him an enduring target. Many times 
he had been singled out by the Indian marks- 
men, but he remained unhurt. Once an 
officer approaching him urged him to throw 
a cloak around him or to change his costume. 

'* No," Scott replied, " I will die in my 
robes." 

As he spoke, one of his brave officers, 
Captain Lawrence, was shot while standing 
close beside him. In referring to this battle 
of Queenstown, the historian Mansfield, who 
was a personal friend of the general, wrote 
as follows : 

" While the mistakes, the errors, and the 
losses of the day were deplored, the Ameri- 
can press and people recognized, amid re- 
grets and misfortunes, a spirit of achieve- 
ment, a boldness in danger, and a gallant 
bearing which inspired new hopes and 
pointed out the way to ultimate success. 
The daring gallantry of Colonel Van Rens- 
selaer ; the capture of the British battery by 
Wood and his heroic companions; the in- 

70 



THE BATTLE AT QUEENSTOWN 

trepid conduct of Wadsworth, of Chrystie, 
of Totten, and many others ; and particularly 
the courage, skill, and continued activity and 
exertions of Scott, had given a cheerfulness 
even to the darkness of defeat, and almost 
a glow of satisfaction to the memory of 
Queenstown Heights." 

But Scott felt that the responsibility to a 
certain extent lay upon his shoulders, and, 
although they were broad, the weight afflicted 
him ; but every one who has read history 
knows that circumstances often arise that 
turn what should be brilliant successes into 
dismal failures. 

Had the militia behaved properly there 
would have been a different story to tell. 
It is a pleasure, however, to record that 
many of these same men afterward redeemed 
themselves in the subsequent actions along 
the frontier, and that Scott was in no way 
held responsible by his Government or by 
the people of his country for the disasters 
of the day. He had volunteered, and had 
done his best, and no man could do more. 
71 



CHAPTER V 

A PRISON ER OF WAR 

The unfortunate American officers and 
men were well treated by their captors. The 
officers of both armies messed together, and 
the Americans were only put under such 
restraint as that imposed by their parole of 
honor. For the most part the British showed 
great delicacy and commiseration for the 
feelings of their unwilling guests. All brave 
men feel kindly disposed toward other brave 
men w^ho have fought a manly fight and 
lost. The bitterness of conflict, as a general 
rule, does not extend among civilized people 
beyond the last shot fired on the battle-field. 
But there are exceptions, and very often men 
forget themselves. On one occasion, at din- 
ner, an officer of the Forty-second, who was 

72 



A PRISONER OF WAR 

a newcomer to the mess, addressed Scott as 
follows : 

" I suppose you have viewed the falls, 
sir?" 

"I have," Scott replied. ** Their gran- 
deur and magnificence are beyond descrip- 
tion." 

" You should see them," replied the 
officer, " after a brilliant victory ; their 
beauty is much increased." 

" You have not yet seen them from the 
American side," Scott replied, "and you 
might not speak thus if my sword had not 
been taken from me. If you intend to 
insult me you might first return it." 

The officer, abashed, replied nothing, and 
the members of the mess rose at once and 
toasted both Scott and his reply. The officer, 
whose confusion was further increased by a 
reproof from General Sheaffe, got up and 
left the table. There is a sequel to this little 
incident that will be told later. 

Immediately after the surrender all the 
prisoners were taken to the village at the 

n 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

mouth of the river, now called Niagara, and 
Scott and his companions were lodged at an 
inn. They had the liberty of the house, and 
there was but one sentry placed at the door, 
more as a matter of form than as a matter of 
restraint. 

Scott was seated in the dining-room wri- 
ting a letter when a message was brought to 
him that some one wished to speak with the 
"tall American." Immediately Scott put 
down his pen and alone passed through sev- 
eral doors into the wide" entry. Here he was 
both amused and surprised to find that his 
visitors were two Indians, lithe, stalwart sav- 
ages, dressed in richly embroidered garments 
of buckskin, with their arms in their wampum 
belts and their faces decorated brilliantly 
with war-paint. Instantly he recognized 
them as the two who had sprung out upon 
him when he bore the flag of truce. The 
elder, who was the taller and stronger, and 
under whose brown skin the muscles and 
sinews showed plainly, was Captain Jacobs, a 
celebrated chieftain, and the most powerful 
74 



A PRISONER OF WAR 

of all the men of his tribe. The other was 
a stripling of perhaps nineteen years of age 
and but little inferior to his companion in 
strength and muscular development. 

As Scott came forward to meet them 
they stood still and gazed upon him in as- 
tonishment. Jacobs spoke first. 

** You live man ? " he asked incredu- 
lously. 

Scott smiled. " As live as ever," he re- 
plied. 

" I shoot you six times," replied the 
chief, holding up all the fingers of one hand 
and the thumb of the other. " He shoot 
you four times," he said, indicating his com- 
panion, who now held up four fingers and 
nodded half scowlingly. ** You dead man ! " 
he said. 

Scott drew himself to his full height, 
and half laughed. 

*' I am very much alive, thank you," he 
replied again. " Is there anything else you 
wish?" 

" I tell you I shoot good," cried the 
75 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

larger Indian, stepping forward. At the same 
time, before Scott was aware of his inten- 
tion, the savage had caught him by the 
elbow in his vise-like grip and half swung 
him around in order to inspect his back 
for shot-holes. The young officer whirled, 
and taking hold of Jacobs's wrist, threw him 
from him with such force that he almost 
fell in a corner of the hallway. 

" Off, villain ! you fired like a squaw," 
Scott cried in anger, and was about to turn 
to reenter the room, when the younger Indian 
interposed. 

"We kill you now, big man," he cried, 
and at the same time he loosened his large 
hunting-knife from his girdle, while Jacobs, 
regaining his feet, drew his gleaming toma- 
hawk. It might have been possible for 
Scott to have leaped the balustrade and 
gained the staircase, but such a thought 
never entered his mind. It would have 
been useless to have cried for help, for none 
could have arrived in time, but in a quick 
glance to one side he perceived that in a 

1^ 



A PRISONER OF WAR 

corner stood the swords that the British 
had taken from him and from his brother 
officers, and that according to customs of 
war they had laid aside. In an instant he 
had picked one out, a long saber with a 
heavy steel scabbard, and jumping back, 
unsheathed it. There he stood with his 
blade balanced, ready for the attack, his 
eye shifting from one of his foes to the 
other, as they advanced slowly upon him. 
It was a moment when coolness was need- 
ed. He determined to kill Jacobs with 
a single thrust, if possible, and then to 
spring upon the other Indian, trusting to 
his great strength to disarm him or disable 
him before the knife or tomahawk could 
be used. There was some advantage in the 
position that he occupied. It was just at 
the foot of the staircase and the savages had 
to approach him from in front. Crouching 
for the spring, with their eyes fixed upon 
his face, the two athletic figures neared. 
The blow was about to fall and Scott was 
poising himself lightly and freely for the 

n 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

effort, when the door opened and a British 
officer entered suddenly from the street. 
At once he saw what was going on. 

*' Ho ! the guard here ! " he cried, then 
leaping bravely forward, he caught Jacobs 
by the shoulder, and drawing his pistol, lev- 
eled it at the head of his young companion. 
Both turned now upon the officer, but 
Scott's blade was at the elder Indian's 
throat, and at once the guard that happened 
by the best of good fortune to be outside 
the door rushed in and- marched the Indians, 
grumbling and muttering, out of the hall- 
way. 

"Thanks for your timely coming, sir," 
said Scott to the officer. "You probably 
saved my life." 

"And you mine also," replied the Eng- 
lishman, "for had there only been one of 
us, he would have died ; my pistol was 
unloaded ! That young rascal should be 
hanged. It was his idea, I believe, to kill 
you, for he had sworn fearly in the fight, 
after he had missed you several times, to 
78 



A PRISONER OF WAR 

take your life even if he lost his own. His 
name is Brant, and he is a son of the old 
Brant of the Revolutionary War, whose 
name you may remember." 

Well, indeed, Scott remembered this 
dreaded name of perhaps the greatest of 
the northern chiefs, and he knew also that 
an Indian's vow Was seldom made in vain. 

The tribes had lost many of their num- 
ber at the hands of the Americans on 
Queenstown Heights, and their hatred of the 
big American was so great that while he 
remained at Niagara, if he went outside the 
inn, he could not do so without a British 
escort, and on the occasion of his going to 
dine with Sir Roger Sheaffe, he walked 
through the lines of redskins, guarded by 
a full company of infantry. 

There is one little incident that goes to 
show the magnanimity of our young hero's 
character. The gallant British General 
Brock was buried beneath one of the bas- 
tions of Fort George with the highest 
military honors. Directly opposite, on the 

79 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

American shore, was Fort Niagara, then 
held by the New York State troops and a 
small body of regulars under Captain Mc- 
Keon. Just before the funeral took place, 
Colonel Scott sent over a messenger with his 
compliments, requesting that minute-guns be 
fired during the burial of the gallant Brock, 
whose manly qualities had been held in 
high esteem even by his enemies. So while 
his mortal remains were being put to rest, 
from both sides of the river the peaceful 
guns were booming -and friend and foe alike 
shared in thus paying tribute to his memory. 

Soon it was rumored that the prisoners 
would be sent to Quebec, and that arrange- 
ments were being made to forward them on 
a cartel as prisoners of war for exchange to 
Boston. 

Scott was in the cabin of the transport 
when he heard a loud voice demanding ad- 
mission from the sentry at the cabin door 
and insisting upon the right to see him. 
This the sentry vigorously denied. Scott 
hastened to the sentry's side, and there 
80 



A PRISONER OF WAR 

found one of his own men, much excited. 
With some difficulty he quieted him and 
found out what was the matter. 

** They're sorting out every man who's 
got a bit of a brogue, sir," cried the soldier, 
who showed a trace of his ancestry in his 
speech, *' and they are going to send them 
over the seas to be tried for high treason. 
There's young Tom McCullough, who, the 
same as myself, was born in Norfolk, and 
McCurdy, who was born in New York ; 
and they declare that all will be hanged 
for fighting against the king." 

Now it happened that there were a num- 
ber of Irishmen who were actually born in 
Ireland, but had emigrated to America and 
had enlisted in the American ranks. There 
were even among the non-commissioned 
officers a few hardy old veterans of the 
Revolution who could claim the Emerald 
Isle as the place of their birth. 

Scott saw that his presence on deck was 
at once necessary. He was placed under no 
restraint on board the vessel, and so, brush- 
8i 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

ing by the sentry, in two leaps he was up 
the ladder and stood on the quarter-deck. 
There he saw the prisoners, numbering over 
200, standing under a guard of marines 
in the waist. An officer was calling their 
names from a list inhis hand. Twenty- 
three men had already been separated from 
the others, and stood to one side with 
forlorn and disconsolate looks. They had 
already been told off as prisoners, to be 
detained and sent to England for trial. 
Scott stood out on the deck before them. 
The officer looked up from the paper he 
was reading. 

" Well, sir ? " he asked. " What can I do 
for you ? " 

" You can explain," Scott replied, " the 
reason for this discrimination. I was led to 
understand that all of the men placed aboard 
this vessel were to be sent to the United 
States for exchange." 

" There are some traitors here," the officer 
replied ; " subjects of his Majesty, who have 
been taken in arms against him. And we 
82 



A PRISONER OF WAR 

are led to believe that there are also not a 
few deserters from our service. We have a 
right to investigate." 

" I deny that right, sir," Scott replied. 
'*A man who enlists in the army of the 
United States and fights as provided under 
the Constitution becomes a citizen, and is 
entitled to all privileges and protection, and 
I warn you, sir, that the interests of every 
man shall be looked after." 

" You forget your position, sir," replied 
the officer hotly ; " you're a prisoner, and I 
order you below to the cabin." 

" I am on my parole," Scott thundered, 
" and you can send me to my cabin by the 
use of force only, for I decline to go. It is 
my privilege to look after the personal safety 
of my men." 

The officer waved his hand toward the 
twenty-three disconsolate ones who stood 
lined up against the bulwarks. 

" This is my answer," he replied. " These 
Irish renegades are traitors, and will be tried 
as such. Any more of their ilk will suffer 

83 



THE GIAXT OF THEEE AAMES 

the same fate. Thomas ]\IeXultv." he read 
in a loud voiee from the list he had in his 
hand, 

Seott now turned to the Americans. 

" If there is a nian named McNultv 
anuMig- vou." he said. " 1 order him not to 
step forward, and as your eommanding 
officer. 1 order not one of vou to replv to a 
question addressed to vou bv any British 
officer aboard this ship in any manner what- 
soever. Thev can not force you to speak. 
Therefore, keep silenr ! " 

The men looked at their tall leader with 
hope mingled with admiration. Had he said 
the word, unarmed as they were, they would 
have thrown themselves upon the marine 
guard tb.at at a whispered order from a 
voung red-coated lieutenant had brought 
their pieces to the ready. 

" 1 know mv rights. I tell you." Scott 
added. " and though a prisoner, they still 
exist. Let these men be returned as they 
were before." 

" Xo." replied the officer : "these we are 
S4 



A PRISONER OF WAR 

sure of — twenty-three traitors who will suffer 
traitors* fates." 

Turning" to the officer of the guard, he 
ordered that the unfortunate men collected 
should be taken off in the long-boat waiting 
alongside and put on shore to be transferred 
to another ship. 

Scott's anger now was beyond all bounds. 
Stretching himself to his full height, he 
pointed to the poor fellows that were being 
hustled toward the gangway. 

" Observe you this," he said ; " for every 
one of those men an Englishman will be set 
apart to abide the sentence placed upon 
them. My country does not forget those 
who serve her in time of need." 

Then walking over to where the prisoners 
were, he swept through the marines, and 
grasped some of his men by their extended 
hands. 

" Good-by, my lads," he said ; " don't 
fear ! Keep up your courage ; no harm shall 
come to you." 

With that he turned and, acknowledging 
7 85 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

the salute of his own men, who stood at at- 
tention with their fingers to their cap brims, 
he went below. In a few minutes the ship 
was under way. 

It is a peculiar characteristic of the good 
officer and natural soldier that his men are 
always his first thought. Over and above 
all else should be their interest and welfare, 
and let private soldiers once understand that 
this is the case, and duty is exalted to almost 
a religion ; affection and a desire to serve 
take the place of instilled obedience. Self- 
sacrifice becomes a pleasure. A handful of 
men animated by this spirit will fight harder 
than thrice their number without it. 

Scott always had this peculiar gift ; he 
could call upon men for almost superhuman 
endeavor, and under his leadership they never 
failed to respond. 

As soon as he reached Boston, Scott 
went on to Washington, and in a short time 
was exchanged. He drew up a report of 
the occurrence on board the cartel and in- 
formed the Secretary of War of the matter, 

86 



A PRISONER OF WAR 

and this very same day a report was presented 
to Congress, and immediately a passage of 
an act of retaliation followed. This was on 
March 3, 18 13. Scott never allowed him- 
self to forget and never lost sight of the un- 
fortunate Irishmen. In the latter part of 
May, at the capture of Fort George, where 
many prisoners were taken, he picked out 
twenty-three as hostages to receive the same 
punishment that should be meted out to his 
own brave soldiers. Much unnecessary suf- 
fering followed perhaps, for the English re- 
taliated ; but Scott's prompt redemption of 
his promise saved his Irish troops. A strange 
sequel to this occurrence took place. Two 
years afterward — when he was on leave of 
absence and recovering from his wounds — 
he was passing one of the piers on the East 
River, New York city, when suddenly he 
heard the sound of loud cheering. Stopping 
for an instant, he found himself surrounded 
by a lot of excited men, some of whom 
rushed forward, endeavoring to take his 
hand, or even to touch him. They were the 
87 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

same twenty-three who had just that moment 
been landed after their long imprisonment. 
They almost crushed their still weak and 
wounded general in their arms, so great was 
their enthusiasm and gratitude. It might be 
mentioned that he wrote to the department 
at Washington on their behalf, claiming full 
pay for their services during the time of 
their imprisonment and soliciting patents 
for land bounty. Both petitions, it is pleas- 
ing to record, were granted. 



88 



CHAPTER VI 

FROM FORT GEORGE TO CHIPPEWA 

The capture of York opened the cam- 
paign of 1813. Indeed, success was needed 
to encourage the American arms on land, for 
up to this time, if it had not been for the 
brilliant successes of the little navy that had 
humbled the vaunted pride of Great Britain 
on the seas, the country would have been in 
a most despondent mood. General Dear- 
born, who now commanded the little army 
on the Canadian frontier at Fort Niagara, 
determined to take advantage of the moment 
when the hopes of the troops under him had 
revived, and again to attempt the invasion of 
Canadian soil. Fort George and Fort Erie 
were within striking distance, and he had 
long conceived the plan for capturing them 
by operations in connection with the fleet 

89 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

that Commodore Chauncey had formed upon 
the lake. The Americans at this time had 
complete control of the waters, and men 
and artillery could easily be transported and 
landed under the guns of the vessels, which, 
being of light draft, could readily cooperate 
in any attack. 

Soon after his exchange Scott had joined 
General Dearborn as adjutant-general. He 
was then but twenty-seven years of age, but 
as his promotion had advanced him, he still 
claimed the privilege of waiving brevet rank 
and returning to active command of his own 
regiment. His advice and counsel were at 
General Dearborn's disposal, but he insisted 
that in action his position was at the head of 
his men. On the 26th of May everything 
was in readiness, and early in the morning 
General Dearborn and four or five thousand 
men embarked on the vessels and boats of 
Chauncey's squadron. Before daylight on 
the following morning the fleet got under 
way and stood for the opposite shore. Colo- 
nel Scott had volunteered to lead the ad- 

90 



FORT GEORGE TO CHIPPEWA 

vance-guard of 500 men, all regulars, many 
of them veterans of the fight at Queenstown, 
and making up the flower of the army. 
There was not one among them who would 
not cheerfully have laid down his life to 
serve the young commander they all knew 
so well. 

The plans for the movement were well 
laid this time. It was intended that Colonel 
Moses Porter should follow with the siege- 
train, and that Generals Boyd, Sheridan, and 
Chandler, with their brigades, should land as 
soon as Scott's picked guard should effect 
a position on the bank. The reserve was 
placed under the command of Colonel Ma- 
comb. Captain Perry had volunteered to 
accompany Scott and to look after the em- 
barkation of the troops. 

With a slight, but fair, wind the vessels 
wafted on. Just at daybreak they were 
within long gunshot of the shore. Before 
nine o'clock, owing to the continued fire 
upon the British forts, their guns were al- 
most silenced, and Scott with his fleet of 

91 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

boats rowed swiftly in. From the banks 
volley after volley met them. The spray 
dashed round them, and many men were 
hit, but the sailors lay back on their oars, 
the infantry assisting them. Then, holding 
their powder high above their heads, they 
plunged breast high into the water, and in- 
side of four minutes after the first boat had 
grated its prow on the sand all were as- 
sembled beneath the bank. They knew 
well that the eyes of the army and navy and 
those of their countrymen were upon them. 
During the furious fire their one thought 
was to close with the enemy, and, marvelous 
to relate, but six men had been struck by 
the shower of bullets, and but three of 
these were more than slightly wounded. As 
they stood there forming into line, they 
were all impatient to charge up the bank, 
although above their heads was the bristling 
row of British bayonets. The men dressed 
as quickly and silently as if for inspection, 
and no sooner was the line formed than 
Scott gave the order to charge. With a long, 
92 



FORT GEORGE TO CHIPPEWA 

rolling cheer they sprang forward. On knee 
and elbow, they clawed their way up the 
steep bank, helping, pushing and assisting 
each other ; a man with a good hold on a 
root or branch would extend his hand back 
to the next below him and haul him along. 
In less than half a minute three-fourths of 
them had reached the brink. But before 
they could form, or even present a line, they 
were met by such a withering fire and such a 
determined onslaught that they fell back. 
Scott was the second man to reach the top ; 
the first was a sergeant of infantry, who fell 
dead, shot through the body. For a single 
second Scott stood there almost alone while 
the men scrambled up on all sides of him. 
Just as the British let go their volley, the 
bank beneath the young colonel's feet crum- 
bled, and he fell back, bringing one or two 
others with him, to the beach beneath. 

General Dearborn, from one of the ships 
that were now preparing to land the other 
brigade, was watching the attack through 
his glass. Distinctly he saw Scott's tall 

93 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

figure standing there, and saw him come 
down like a mighty ninepin among his men. 

** He's lost, he's killed ! " he cried aloud 
in his anguish, knowing that without their 
leader the troops would lose most of their 
impetuous dash and courage. But, to his 
delight, he saw Scott spring to his feet, and, 
waving his sword in one hand and his hat in 
the other, encourage his men to a second at- 
tempt. Up the brave fellows went again, 
their cheers sounding louder and fiercer than 
ever, and this time they made a lodgment on 
the bank. 

They found many of the British lying al- 
most prone upon the ground in order to stab 
at them as they reached the top. They were 
forced to kick the bayonets up with their 
feet, and steel clashed against steel. 

A great cheer rolled up from the ships. 
The boats that were now returning toward 
the shore redoubled their efforts, the men at 
the oars working like demons. The line was 
hastily dressed, and then charged forward. 
They closed fiercely with the enemy, and in 
94 



FORT GEORGE TO CHIPPEWA 

twenty minutes drove them in every direc- 
tion. Colonel Forsythe, who had effected a 
landing below, pursued them some distance 
into the woods. Those of the British who 
had taken refuge in the fort made a short 
defense of it, but so swift was the attack of 
the Americans that the English had scarce 
time to fire the train and magazines and ap- 
ply the torch before the regulars were pour- 
ing over the bastions and escarpments. 

Scott, who had pressed on past the fort, 
wheeled two of his companies and ordered 
them to climb the walls, put down their arms, 
and arrest the flames. He himself led them. 
When only fifty yards distance from the 
main gate one of the smaller magazines ex- 
ploded and a bit of timber struck the colo- 
nel on the shoulder, hurling him from his 
horse. Every one about him thought that 
he was killed, but, though severely hurt, he 
picked himself up and was the first to reach 
the gate. The men attacked it with the butts 
of their muskets, and the sappers wielded 
their heavy axes and mauls with such great 

95 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

effect that it shattered before them, and they 
entered the enclosed space. Directly before 
them were the burning storehouses and maga- 
zines, built of pine logs banked with earth. 

Captains Hindman and Stockton snatched 
away the matches that had been applied to 
two of the larger magazines, and the works 
were saved ; but Scott all alone had rushed 
on beyond the buildings to where the flag- 
staff stood. At the top was still waving the 
British flag. Instantly he seized the hal- 
yards and began to lower the colors. A 
loud voice panted at his side : 

" Confound your long legs, Scott ! you 
got in before me ! " 

Turning, the young colonel saw that it 
was his friend Porter, who had seen the flag, 
and, although in command of the field-artil- 
lery, had rushed forward in order to be first 
at the foot of the flagstaff. Scott hardly took 
time to reply. He put the flag into Porter's 
hands, and, making a leap to the stockade in 
the rear of the fort, vaulted over it. Run- 
ning out he placed himself once more at the 
96 



FORT GEORGE TO CHIPPEWA 

head of his regiment that were pursuing the 
British across the open toward the woods. 
An order to halt and to return had been sent 
to his column, but he disregarded it, and for 
five miles he pressed forward until stopped 
by Major Boyd in person. Scores of pris- 
oners were taken, among them many officers, 
and one in particular whose capture com- 
pletes a little incident that had begun at 
Queenstown. 

As some of the prisoners were being sent 
to the rear he noticed among them a British 
officer of the Forty-second, now a colonel. 
Calling up the lieutenant in charge of the 
prisoners, he requested him to be sure that 
this officer in particular had every courtesy 
and privilege accorded him. It was an op- 
portunity to fulfil the old adage about the 
coals of fire. 

The prisoners were sent across the river 
to Fort Niagara, and here it was that the 
sequel to the story we related in the last 
chapter took place. Scott's orders respect- 
ing the captured British colonel — the very 

97 



THE GIANT OF THREE WAKS 

one who had been so rude to him at the 
time of his own capture — had been carried 
into effect. The officer had been over- 
whelmed with kindness and attention, his 
every want supplied, and it was Scott's for- 
tune to meet him, when he was seated at the 
table with the American officers, a prisoner. 
No sooner had the colonel seen Scott, than 
he rose, and, with a great deal of dignity 
and the most charmingly polite manner, said 
to him before the assembled officers : 

" I have long owed you an apology, sir ; 
you have overwhelmed me with kindness. 
You can now at your leisure view the falls in 
all their glory." 

There is some discrepancy in the various 
reports of killed and wounded in this action, 
General Dearborn giving his losses as but 
1 7 killed and 45 wounded, while the British 
was 60 killed, 90 wounded, and 100 taken 
prisoners. The British reports almost re- 
versed the casualties. 

In July, Scott resigned his position as 
chief of staff and again took command of a 

98 



FORT GEORGE TO CHIPPEWA 

double regiment. He was left in charge of 
Fort George while the preparations for the 
great conquest of Canada were being com- 
pleted, under the directions of his old enemy, 
General Wilkinson. Scott prophesied that 
nothing but disaster could come of it, for, 
like many others, he doubted Wilkinson's 
capacity, and knew well that the majority of 
the troops did not trust in either his judg- 
ment or his courage. The young colonel, 
however, had plenty of work of his own, re- 
pairing and strengthening the fortifications 
directly under his management and in keep- 
ing in touch with the positions of the enemy, 
who were never more than a day's march to 
the west and south. 

Several rather amusing messages passed 
between Scott and the British general. On 
one occasion the latter sent an immediate 
summons for him to surrender his position, 
" as otherwise he would be compelled to 
storm the fort," to which warning he added 
the sentence, " I will not be responsible for 
the Indians." Scott smiled when he had read 

99 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

the short note and did not deign to write 
one in reply, but, turning to the messenger 
who stood waiting, he said : " Tell your gen- 
eral to come on and storm the fort — I will 
be responsible for the Indians." 

In course of time Wilkinson began his 
movement down the lake, the British aban- 
doning their camp and preparing to oppose 
the landing. Scott received orders to join 
the main body with the regular troops that 
were under him. He had expected that 
Commodore Chauncey's vessels would trans- 
port him and his command down the lake, 
but Wilkinson refused to allow the fleet to 
be used for that purpose, and Scott, much 
against his will, was compelled to start on 
foot for Sacketts Harbor, marching by way 
of Genesee River, Canandaigua, and Utica. 
The roads were heavy with mud and at 
places almost impassable. For three days 
it rained a heavy downpour, and the mead- 
ows and flats were flooded knee-deep. A 
short distance from Utica he met the Secre- 
tary of War, and from him obtained permis- 
loo 



FORT GEORGE TO CHIPPEWA 

sion to push forward with a small following 
to the St. Lawrence, to join Wilkinson. 
Making strenuous efforts to catch up with 
the main army before it should assume active 
operations, he succeeded in overtaking it at 
Ogdensburg. Here, armed with his letter 
from the Secretary, he was given the com- 
mand of the first battalion under Colonel 
Macomb, and was detailed to lead the ad- 
vance-guard down the St. Lawrence. As 
he pushed ahead, feeling his way for the 
army behind him, he had several skirmishes 
with the enemy. At Chrysler's farm there 
occurred one of those smaller fights that 
might have developed into important ac- 
tions, but amounted to little owing to the 
mistakes and inaction of the commanding 
officer ; for Wilkinson began to show more 
and more his feebleness and inefficiency, and 
on the 1 2th of November, hearing that the 
British had amassed large forces to oppose 
his farther progress, he ordered his grand 
army of invasion to the rightabout, and re- 
treated before a shadow. Afterward he 

8 lOI 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

endeavored to explain his behavior on the 
ground that Hampton, for personal rea- 
sons, had refused to join him with his di- 
vision ; but even if this were so, it was not 
sufficient to justify his conduct, and, as a 
contemporary remarked, " had Scott been 
placed over that army, the American flag 
in a few days would have waved above 
Montreal." 



102 



CHAPTER VII 

CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

The army from which so much had been 
expected now went into winter quarters and 
Scott was sent to Albany to take charge of 
recruiting. 

In the early spring of 1814, at the youth- 
ful age of twenty-eight, he was promoted to 
the rank of brigadier-general, and was or- 
dered to Buffalo to take a position under 
his superior. General Brown. The latter left 
him there to superintend the camp of in- 
struction. Scott was convinced of one thing, 
the necessity for the instilling of military dis- 
cipline and military knowledge into the army. 
The American methods were exceedingly 
antiquated. The system of tactics then em- 
ployed had been handed down from the 
Revolutionary times, and Scott's wide reading 
103 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

on military subjects now stood him in good 
stead. He started schools for the officers, 
many of whom were most ignorant upon 
military subjects, and a constant and severe 
course of drill followed with the regiments 
under him. These consisted of his own old 
command, Ripley's brigade of the regular 
army, Colonel Hindman's battalion of artil- 
lery, and Porter's brigade of the militia. 

Every day, rain or shine, for three 
months these brigades were exercised and 
handled, and by the end of that time even 
the militia were steady and absolutely trust- 
worthy. The whole division was as able as 
a body of Napoleon's veterans. And all 
this told, as we shall see ; for probably no 
men that served under any flag were sub- 
jected to so great a strain and came out of it 
with such a noble record. 

Retreating they may have practised, as 
prescribed by military requirements, but one 
thing they had been taught by their com- 
mander : that retreat was the last thing to be 
thought of, and, as shall be seen, he had im- 
104 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

bued every single man with his own imper- 
turbable spirit and dauntless bravery. 

In the latter part of June General Brown 
returned from Sacketts Harbor and began 
to make his preparations for the third inva- 
sion of Canada. On the 3d of July, with the 
whole of his army, he crossed the Niagara 
River and took Fort Erie without a struggle. 

It was the intention to press forward at 
once and to engage the main body of the 
British under General Raill that was en- 
camped and partly entrenched at Chippewa, 
scarcely more than a long day's march dis- 
tant. Before the advance began, Scott, 
who, with his brigade, led the advance, had 
the word passed : " Remember the day ! 
This is the 4th of July ! " No doubt the 
knowledge infused a particular keenness 
through the American lines, for they 
marched with such vigor that they drove in 
the British advance-guard under the Marquis 
of Tweesdale, and never halting, kept him 
before them for sixteen miles, almost at the 
double. 

105 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

The marquis subsequently, in speaking 
of the activity and determination of the 
American troops, stated that he could not 
account for it until the day and Scott's 
watchword were brought to his mind. 

Just at dark the marquis, with the 
Americans at his heels, crossed the Chip- 
pewa River, behind which lay the Whole 
of the British army. Now the Chippewa 
enters the Niagara River almost at right 
angles, and about two miles farther up a 
little stream called Street's Creek joins the 
Niagara also. Behind it General Brown 
drew up the American force. Between the 
streams lay an open plain, on one side 
bounded by the river, and on the other by 
deep woods. Just at daybreak on the 
morning of the 5th, General Brown deter- 
mined to advance and to attack the British, 
and at the same hour General Raill deter- 
mined on a similar movement. The English 
crossed the bridge over the Chippewa at the 
same time that the Americans forded the 
creek. 

106 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

An irregular fight began in the woods on 
the left between Porter's brigade and the 
Canadian militia, the latter being driven back 
to the banks of the Chippewa, where General 
Raill, who had by this time crossed, advanced 
to their support. Before this formidable 
array Porter's brigade fell back. General 
Brown, hastening on, passed by Scott's bri- 
gade, that had just formed in marching order, 
and were crossing the creek. 

*' The enemy is advancing — ^you will have 
to fight," General Brown said to Scott. 

" We will be ready, sir," was the latter's 
reply. 

The young general, however, was igno- 
rant of the fact that the British had pushed 
on so far, and, to his surprise, as he reached 
the bank, he saw drawn up in front of him, 
in the open field, the whole of the British 
army. Line upon line of red coats and white 
cross-belts, standing as if at drill. The creek 
was deep, it was necessary for Scott's bri- 
gade to cross a wooden bridge, and, to 
his dismay, he perceived that it was com- 
107 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

manded by a battery of nine pieces that 
stood at almost point-blank range. 

No sooner had his own men appeared in 
sight than this battery opened fire, but not a 
single company delayed, not a man halted. 
To the music of a band of twenty pieces the 
Americans pressed forward, and company 
after company crossed the bridge. 

The fire of the battery was steady and 
incessant. But there being but little wind, 
the smoke hanging over them after their 
first discharge obscured their aim, and, al- 
though the American ranks were consider- 
ably thinned, the lines reached the plain un- 
broken. The First and Second Battalions, 
under Major Leavenworth and Major Mc- 
Neil, took up a position in front of the left 
and center of the enemy, while Jesup, who 
commanded the third, obliqued to the farther 
side, toward the woods, in order to attack 
the British right, which threatened to out- 
flank the American line. It was a beautiful 
July day. The sun was unobscured by a 
single cloud, and before the fight had actually 
io8 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

begun the dust from the marching regiments 
drifted lazily across the plain and mingled 
with the white fumes of the smoke from the 
batteries that still kept up a continuous fire. 
Farther beyond rose the gleaming spray 
from the Niagara Falls, and over the shock 
of the guns rose the deep-toned roar of the 
cataract. 

Battles in the old days were spectacular 
in a way that modern battles never can be. 
In plain sight, halting, firing, and advan- 
cing, as if in mock combat, the two armies 
neared. At last they stood within 80 
yards of each other, receiving and giving 
volleys almost as if in play, although men 
were falling in the ranks, the companies, as 
they stepped forward, closing up the wide 
and bloody gaps. 

Scott was playing the game of his life. 
He had a plan in his head that, granted two 
things, he knew would give him victory. It 
was his endeavor to get the two battalions 
of Leavenworth and McNeil in an oblique 
position to the British lines, and, if the men 
109 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

stood and the movements were made simul- 
taneously, he felt sure of his success. At 
last, to his delight, he saw them reach the 
coveted positions, the American extrem- 
ities being nearest the enemy, the British 
line forming the base of an obtuse triangle. 
All at once he saw that Towson's battery, 
obscured in its own smoke, had not noticed 
that the British had changed their position. 
The fire was directed too far to the right, 
and was expending itself harmlessly in 
the British rear. Without a thought of his 
own danger, Scott put spurs to his horse, 
and galloped directly across the triangle. 
How he escaped was a miracle, for he 
was subject to the cross-fire from both 
armies. His own men, soon perceiving him, 
started cheering, and the cheer rolled down 
the line continuously until he had reached 
Towson's guns. Reining in his horse, and 
throwing him almost back upon his haunches, 
Scott turned and pointed : 

"A little more to the left, captain," he 
shouted ; " the enemy is there." 
no 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

Instantly the direction of the field-pieces 
was changed, and a raking and destructive 
fire pierced the British ranks. One lucky 
shot struck an ammunition wagon, and, 
blowing it up, spread destruction and con- 
sternation on every side. Scott, now at a 
gallop, rode up to McNeil's battalion ; his 
eyes were flashing and his face blazing with 
excitement. Swinging his hat at arm's 
length, he tore down the line. 

"The enemy say we are good at long 
shot, but can not stand cold iron. I call 
upon the Eleventh instantly to give the lie 
to that slander. Charge ! " he shouted. 

Just then Towson's entire battery re- 
opened its destructive fire. Replacing his 
hat and lifting himself in his stirrups at the 
same time he drew his sword, Scott reiterated 
the command : 

^ 

" Charge ! Charge ! " 

With a wild cheer the gallant battalion 

rushed forward with leveled bayonets. They 

took volley and volley almost in their faces, 

but never stopped. Although the front 

III 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

rank dwindled and shattered, they closed 
up while on the run, and striking the British 
line obliquely, crumbled it to pieces, and 
swept forward bayoneting and clubbing their 
way through the red-coated ranks. At the 
same time Leavenworth had advanced im- 
petuously on the right, and Jesup, although 
not knowing how the other two battalions 
had fared, but fearing that he might be out- 
flanked, commanded his troops to support 
arms and advance. They cheerfully charged 
home, and, obtaining a better position, 
stopped the flanking movement and poured 
in their volleys, creating frightful carnage. 
The armies now were almost mingled through- 
out the whole length of the line. Every por- 
tion was engaged, and the firing was so inces- 
sant and destructive and the uproar so terrific 
that the loudest shouted orders could not be 
heard more than a few feet away. But 
Scott, with the assistance of his aides. Lieu- 
tenants Worth and Watts, kept in touch with 
the commanding officers. He himself was 
here and there and everywhere. No one 

112 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

had faltered, no one had misunderstood, and 
no soldiers, however brave, could stand that 
determined and concerted action. The Brit- 
ish fell back to the river, many were drowned 
in attempting to ford it, but the main body 
crossed the bridge successfully, the rear-guard 
destroying it to prevent the Americans from 
following. 

The suddenness of the hush that fell over 
the battle-field was almost as appalling as the 
discord had been a few minutes previous. 
By sunset not a shot was heard ; only the 
roaring of the majestic falls, and out on the 
plains the moans of the wounded broke the 
stillness of the summer evening. There 
were almost 4,000 men engaged in the fight, 
and nearly 800 lay killed or wounded as the 
sun went down — almost one-fifth of all en- 
gaged. Few bloodier battles were ever 
fought between civilized armies. The Brit- 
ish were in consternation. They had been 
told that the American troops knew nothing 
of the bayonet ; they had always claimed 
that it was their own way of fighting, and 
113 



THE GIANT OF THREE WAKS 

that the Americans would give way in the 
open field. They could scarcely believe the 
evidence of their own senses. They could 
hardly credit the fact that their own veteran 
ranks had been crushed and crumbled under 
the headlong charges of the American in- 
fantry. 

General Brown had been surprised when 
he found that Scott had the whole of the 
British army in front of him, and he had 
hurried to the rear to bring on Ripley's 
brigade. But they were not needed ; the 
field was cleared before they could ar- 
rive. 

Scott greeted McNeil after the battle. 

" Major," he said, ** I knew we could give 
the lie to that slander, and I knew I spoke 
for every man in your ranks when I called 
upon them. We showed them what we 
could do with the cold steel, and we will 
show it again." 

The fact was that in McNeil's battalion 
there was not a single recruit, and most of 
the men Scott knew personally. They were 
114 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

the same that had followed him when he had 
led them at Fort George. 

In Leavenworth's battalion there were a 
few volunteers, among them a company of 
backwoodsmen from the Adirondack coun- 
try. Little did they know of the manual of 
arms, less had they ever heard of the school 
of the company ; but they had fought in In- 
dian conflicts many times, and they were ac- 
customed with their long-barreled rifles to 
make long, sunset shots at wary bucks on 
the edges of the lakes, or to pick squirrels 
out of the tallest trees. Only two or three 
days before the action Major Leavenworth 
had attempted to train these men and to 
give them some knowledge of military for- 
mation. It was while thus employed Scott 
himself had approached, and seeing that the 
major's efforts were not very successful, he 
had asked permission to try to see what he 
could do with them. A few minutes con- 
vinced him that even his knowledge was of 
no avail. He saw that they were of the stuff 
of which fighting men are made, but he rec- 
115 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

ognized the futility of accomplishing three 
months' work in three hours' time. 

" Major," he said, *' I leave you your 
men," and rode away. 

When Leavenworth had advanced, these 
backwoodsmen had gone forward with the 
regulars ; although they had no bayonets for 
their guns, they had not faltered for an in- 
stant. Gradually spreading out, each man 
had become a unit fighting for himself, but 
still pressing on, and their shots were not 
wasted. Before the position that they occu- 
pied lay the largest number of British killed 
by bullets. Of course, in places where the 
deadly bayonet had been at work the ground 
was covered with bleeding forms ; but the 
value of straight shooting was forced home 
upon the American general's mind, and the 
value of long-distance and accurate rifles 
also, for one of the officers reported that be- 
fore the armies came to a hand to hand con- 
flict, each one of those cool and determined 
riflemen was as good as ten men who fired 
wildly and blindly. 

ii6 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

Scott himself had thought of this com- 
pany in the middle of the action, and he had 
ridden over to the extremity of the line 
where he had placed them (in order that they 
should interfere in the least possible man- 
ner with the maneuvering), and there to his 
delighted surprise he had found them obey- 
ing no orders but the orders to advance, 
each man a captain unto himself ; and as one 
of them who knew not how to salute, but 
who knew what he was placed there for, re- 
plied : " We're throwing no shots away here, 
general." 

Scott rode off satisfied. 

For two days the American army rested, 
burying the dead, sending back the wounded, 
and replenishing their stores. Then, Scott's 
brigade leading, they crossed the Chippewa, 
the British retreating before them to Bur- 
lington Heights, near the head of Lake 
Ontario. 

The spirit of the American troops was so 
fine and their ardor so intense that General 
Brown resolved no longer to delay for reen- 
9 117 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

forcements ; and although he knew that he 
was largely outnumbered, he determined to 
advance and to attack the British where they 
were. Supplies were gathered, and on the 
25th of July plans were made for the battle 
which he expected would take place on the 
next morning, the 26th. 

Late in the afternoon of the 25th a tired 
messenger who had crossed the river and 
traveled in the wake of the army on foot 
came into the camp inquiring for General 
Brown ; and then was heard the startling 
news that a thousand British troops had 
crossed the river the evening before and 
were on their way to seize Lewiston and 
the American camp and magazines at Fort 
Schlosser. 

Brown knew that his train of supply 
wagons were on their way from Buffalo, and 
unless he could divert the English attack he 
might find himself in a precarious position. 
He hastily called a consultation of his offi- 
cers, and it was reasoned that if an attack 
was now made on the British lines a diver- 
118 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

sion would follow, and the troops already 
sent to the American side be forced to re- 
turn. Within twenty minutes after arriving 
at this decision Scott, with a detachment 
of 1,200 men, was moving forward in the 
direction of the fort at the mouth of the 
Niagara. He proceeded with the utmost 
caution, and had traversed some two miles, 
when his scouts brought in word that some 
redcoats were to be seen at the edge of a 
strip of wood less than a mile ahead. Riding 
forward, Scott through his glass perceived 
that they were mounted officers evidently re- 
connoitering. In a few minutes they had 
disappeared. 

Turning to one of his aides, he ordered 
the troops to be deployed along a road that 
crossed his path and that led down toward 
the river. This brought almost his entire 
force into one long line. When everything 
was in readiness he ordered the men forward, 
and just as he cleared the road and gained a 
slight elevation, he paused in astonishment. 
Before him he saw an army of at least 
119 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

2,000 drawn up awaiting battle. Quickly 
he looked back at his own force that had 
now come in plain view of the enemy and 
had halted. He turned at once to Lieuten- 
ant Richard Douglas, who was mounted on 
a fine horse, and ordered him to hasten back 
at once to the main body of troops and in- 
form the commanding general of the situa- 
tion. A few minutes later he sent back an- 
other officer with a second message, insisting 
upon urgent haste. Although ignorant of 
the numbers opposed to him, and also igno- 
rant of several other things which were of 
great importance, the first being that two 
nights before General Sir Gordon Drum- 
mond had arrived with reenforcements for 
the British and that Raill had not sent any 
troops across to Niagara, Scott determined 
to begin the action, trusting to holding his 
own unaided until the reserve should reach 
him. 

The main British line, almost 2,000 
strong, was posted on a ridge in Lundy's 
Lane, running at right angles to the river. 
120 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

Major Jesup and Colonel Brady were or- 
dered to occupy a space covered with small 
timber, and to attempt to turn the enemy's 
left. 

Time sped on while both armies ma- 
neuvered in silence. But soon the British 
discovered that they outflanked the Ameri- 
cans on the left, and General Raill advanced 
a battalion to turn them and take them in 
the rear. McNeil's men met them and 
shattered the British advance, although his 
loss in doing so was great. In the mean- 
time Jesup had thrown forward his men so 
quickly through the underbrush that they 
had got around the flank of the enemy and 
were behind them. Turning, he charged 
back, taking the British by surprise, and 
to his delight he captured the commanding 
General Raill and his whole staff" ! The 
word was sent down the American line and 
greeted with loud cheers. 

But now a British battery of seven pieces 
that had been placed in position opened fire. 
It was so dark that the Americans had not 

121 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

perceived them being hauled into position, 
and the first notice of their presence was 
the red flash from the guns. Loaded with 
grape and round shot, they played upon the 
crowded American ranks that were slowly 
pushing forward. Scott's regiments were 
soon almost cut to pieces. A fourth of 
the whole brigade fell inside of twenty min- 
utes. The battery — increased to nine guns, 
(five 24-pounders and four howitzers) — kept 
up its fire. A cannon-ball bounding from 
the ground killed Scott's horse and hurled 
him headlong. He arose much bruised, and 
taking another mount, offered by one of the 
artillerymen, he dashed along the line with 
such gay spirits and reckless courage that 
the troops caught the infection. Not a man 
yielded ; even the wounded tried to keep 
their places in the ranks. The Eleventh and 
Twenty -second Regiments, that had lost their 
commanders and had expended all their 
ammunition, were ordered to fall back to 
the left and rear and reform. Leavenworth 
with the Ninth was compelled to stand the 
122 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

whole shock of the battle. Towson's little 
battery, placed in a hollow, fired without 
much result at the flashes of the British 
guns, but, as they were well over the crest of 
the hill, a fact that he did not ascertain until 
too late, the shots did little harm. 

Leavenworth's men now appeared to be 
surrounded by a semicircle of fire, but still 
they held their ground, and Scott, galloping 
over to them, sought out their commander. 
Leavenworth was slightly wounded, but 
smiled grimly as the young general rode up. 

*' How goes it, sir ? " Scott asked. 

** Your rule for retreating is fulfilled, 
general," Leavenworth replied. " One-half 
of my men are killed or wounded. But we 
will hold on should you desire it." 

Scott's heart almost failed him, but he 
knew the disaster that would follow any 
order to fall back. He reasoned that Gen- 
eral Brown could not be far away. Yet the 
case was desperate ! Unless help soon ar- 
rived he would have to call off the bleeding 
fragment of his band of heroes. At just 
123 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

that moment he heard a cheer rising from 
some distance in the rear. The reserves 
were coming ! Pointing to the flag that the 
gallant Ninth still kept flying at the center 
of their firing line, he told them to keep it 
there and hold their ground. 

The flashes from the guns were now 
almost the only light, although a sickly 
moon strove to pierce the clouds of smoke. 
As he turned to leave Leavenworth, a shot 
brought down his horse, and when Scott 
got up on his feet again he discovered that 
he was wounded in the arm and bleeding. 
On foot and followed by Lieutenant Worth, 
he walked toward the right, where the firing 
had been again renewed. He saw at once 
that of the 1,200 that had crossed the river 
with him he had only some 500 remaining, 
but they were fighting bravely. Suddenly 
he perceived some men coming forward on 
horseback, and to his delight he recognized 
General Brown and his staff. Ripley's 
brigade was now coming on the field, 
and Porter, with the volunteers, was but 
124 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

a few hundred yards behind him. Lieu- 
tenant Riddle, with some 200 men who 
had been off on a scouting expedition, now 
came in from the left. He had received 
no orders, but had started on hearing the 
sound of the cannonading, and coming at 
full run across the country, had arrived in 
the nick of time. 

General Brown, upon hearing Scott's 
account of what had happened, rode back 
and brought on Ripley's brigade, ordering 
them to form in advance of the exhausted 
regulars. At the same moment that the 
American reenforcements arrived, the Eng- 
lish numbers were augmented also, and now 
must have numbered nearly 4,000 men. 
Strange to say, with the coming of the new 
forces there followed a lull in the battle. 
The rumble of wheels could be heard, and 
the shouts of men urging on struggling 
horses. It was evident that the British 
were moving their battery to a better 
position. 

''Those guns must be taken, general," 
125 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

urged Scott, grasping Brown's arm. ''They 
must be taken." The commander-in-chief 
turned to Colonel Miller, who was stand- 
ing close beside him. 

"Colonel," he said, "can you take 
that battery ? " 

The brave young soldier looked at the 
dark crest of the hill. 

" I will try, sir," he replied, saluting. 

Immediately the Twenty-first Regiment 
was brought up. Miller at once placed him- 
self at its head. Major M'Farland with the 
Twenty-third was to act as the supporting 
line. Miller had not seen the ground that 
lay between him and the hill, and turning to 
Scott, he asked a few questions. 

" I will pilot you," the general replied. 
" When all is ready follow me." 

At Miller's side he moved forward in the 
darkness, the steady tramping infantry be- 
hind them ; keeping a little to the left, and 
passing by an old church and graveyard that 
showed dimly in the moonlight, they were 
soon at the beginning of the sloping ground. 
126 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

Here Scott left them, and returned. And 
now, in close order and in absolute silence, 
elbow to elbow, and knee to knee, the two 
regiments moved straight for the battery. 
Drummond's men lined the crest of the hill, 
and it was only by the muffled tread that 
the approach of the Americans was detected. 
Then the darkness was ripped and gashed 
by the red tongues of flame. The whole 
battery opened at less than 200 yards. 
It happened that the second regiment, 
the Twenty-third, got most of the dis- 
charge. It reeled back in the gloom, re- 
formed again, and pressed on, following the 
Twenty-first, that was now advancing at the 
double. 

" Close up, close up ! Steady, men ! " 
officers shouted, and forward the brave fel- 
lows went. 

Another volley caught the luckless 
Twenty-third, and absolutely hurled them 
back. But yet the Twenty-first went on 
and never fired a shot. The flickering red 
lights from the enemy's musketry showed 
127 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

them their goal, their bayonets gleamed in 
the glare ; as the men fell the ranks closed 
up, and now the explosion of the battery 
revealed the whole hillside and the British 
saw the dark columns pushing toward them. 
Over the bodies of their dead comrades, 
urged on by the cries of their own wounded, 
the invincible regiment kept straight for the 
guns. In amazement the British watched 
them come. It was to be cold steel against 
cold steel again. When just in front of the 
battery and but fifteen paces distant, two 
guns whose fire had been delayed were dis- 
charged. It was this minute that Miller 
shouted : 

** Charge, men, and over them ! " 
The next instant the remnants of the 
shattered regiment swept with a great shout, 
half-scream, half-cheer, over the guns and 
gunners and the supporting Grenadiers. 
Now in the darkness followed the hand-to- 
hand fighting, cursing and cutting, stabbing 
and clubbing ; in the tall grass and bushes, 
bayonet crossed bayonet. The clubbed 
128 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

muskets rose and fell and the fight was like 
the old ones of medieval times, when men's 
strength told and muscle and hardihood of 
frame bore down the weaker man. A panic 
seemed to seize the British ; down the other 
side of the hill they rushed, and now all 
that was left of the Twenty-third, coming 
forward on the double, M'Farland leading, 
joined their victorious comrades on the hill. 
They even passed by them and formed be- 
tween the captured guns and the foe in the 
farther hollow. 

Ripley, hearing the cheers, moved for- 
ward his brigade to the top of the hill in 
order to keep what had been won. But 
Drummond, maddened with rage and morti- 
fication, was riding to and fro among his 
scattered forces. Two fresh regiments were 
brought up from the center, and the lines re- 
forming, the Englishmen determined to re- 
take the guns at any cost. What had now 
gone on on the one side of the hill was re- 
peated on the other. Bravely the veterans of 
Old England came back to the attack. The 
129 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

Americans now could hear their approach- 
ing footsteps. When within thirty paces the 
redcoats, with their white cross-belts, be- 
came visible and broke forward on the run. 
So fierce a volley met them that they were 
turned back again and helter-skelter found 
safety in the wooden hollow. 

Rallying again, they returned once more, 
and this time reached the guns. Once more 
it was hand to hand in the darkness ; men 
could not distinguish their foes until within 
striking distance. To and fro in a death 
grapple they lurched hither and thither over 
the rough stones and among the bushes. 
But for the second time the British line 
broke, and what was left of it disappeared 
into the darkness. 

General Ripley now reformed again, and 
Scott, who had been working hard, suc- 
ceeded in getting one single battalion out of 
the fragments of his whole brigade, and with 
them he took his place beside Ripley on the 
hill. General Drummond now called forth 
every endeavor for a final attempt. The 
130 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

whole of the British army with the ex- 
ception of a few flanking companies was 
brought up, and the whole of its strength 
was directed on the center of the American 
line. But here stood all that were left of 
the gallant Twenty-first, whose impetuous 
charge had swept the hill. They stood like 
rocks. Never would they give up what it 
had cost them so much to gain. Their 
spirit infused itself among the younger 
regiments and was caught by the volunteers. 
Scott, in the meantime, had led his 
battalion down the hill toward where, indis- 
tinctly, he could see the movements of the 
British as they formed for the attack. It 
was his intention to take them in the flank 
and rear as they advanced ; but before he 
had gone far a cruel volley met him, actu- 
ally cutting the middle out of his battalion 
and separating it into two small divisions ; 
and as the volley came the British line ad- 
vanced again. The two little companies 
Scott commanded did not falter. They 
hurled themselves on the oncoming force 
131 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

with such vehemence that it shattered be- 
fore them. Scott was again mounted on a 
borrowed horse, and once more came to the 
ground, his steed shot dead through the 
body. His friend Jesup, severely wounded 
and reeling in his efforts to keep his balance, 
hastened to him. Ammunition was becom- 
ing scarce ; guns had been broken in the 
clubbing fight, but the wounded extended 
their own weapons to their comrades. 

"Take mine," a man would cry. 

" And mine ; my gun is in good order, 
and my cartridge-box is full." 

Jesup's flag, under which four men had 
been killed already, was carried by a brave 
sergeant, who, though severely wounded in 
the thigh, was able to stay with his com- 
rades. 

Scott had just risen to his feet and 
Jesup was standing beside him when a ter- 
rific volley leveled almost half of the men 
about them. Down went the sergeant, and 
when he struggled upright again it was seen 
that the staff of the flag was severed in three 
132 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

pieces. With tlie colors almost winding 
about him, he turned to his commander. 

"Look, colonel," he cried, "how they 
have cut us up ! " 

Then bravely he attempted to wave the 
flag about his head, but his strength gave 
way and he pitched forward, first on one 
knee and then at full length, and in a few 
minutes he expired. 

But now the British attack had been re- 
pulsed, and for the third time rolled down 
the hill. The Americans stood leaning on 
their guns, the barrels of which were almost 
too hot to be touched. 

It was by this time midnight, the moon 
was high and its soft light, as the battle 
smoke drifted away, shone peacefully down 
upon the bloody scene. About the guns 
and for 300 yards along the hill it was diffi- 
cult to move without stepping on the bodies 
of dead or wounded men. Linked together, 
with their limbs entwined, friend and foe- 
man lay there where the carnage had been 
thickest. 

1^ 133 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

It was thought that the British had had 
enough, and that there would be no more at- 
tacks; but the bulldog spirit had been aroused, 
and in an hour, just as the moon went under 
a cloud, a bugle rang loud and clear, and on 
they came. There were fresh men added 
to the attacking party now, for they had 
brought up the last line of reserves. It was 
the forlorn hope, but it was to be a mighty 
effort. Undaunted by their previous re- 
pulses, again they reached the hilltop ; again 
the same scenes were enacted as before. 
Scott stood beside Jesup and was looking 
at a wound the latter had just received in 
his hand, when a man near to them cried out : 

" Cartridges ! More cartridges ! " An- 
other brave fellow at that moment reeling to 
the ground, attempted to haul himself erect 
by the aid of the branches of a little tree. 
" Cartridges — in my box," he replied. 

Both Scott and Jesup hastened to him. 

Just as the former caught him by the arm 

the poor fellow collapsed and died. Scott 

was placing him tenderly on the ground when 

134 




They moved him to the rear. 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

an ounce ball crashed throught his shoulder 
beneath the epaulet, and he fell insensible 
beside the brave private. Jesup called two 
men to his aid, and with some difficulty, for 
the young general was so heavy, they moved 
him to the rear and laid him dowi) in the 
shelter of a small tree, and there Jesup him- 
self fainted from loss of blood. 

But the British had been repulsed for the 
fourth time and had fled ; the Americans still 
held their ground. 

The brave British general, Drummond, 
had been taken to the rear severely wounded, 
but now the terrible losses on the American 
side became apparent. General Brown had 
been carried from the field a half-hour before 
badly hit, but he had given orders that the 
soldiers should not be told. 

But one officer out of every four of the 
Americans was on his feet, and many of them 
were wounded also ! Scott, unable to hold 
up his head from loss of blood, was carried 
back and placed in an ambulance and taken 
to the farther side of the Chippewa. The 
135 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

command devolved upon Ripley, who, al- 
though he had fought bravely, was unequal 
to the occasion. 

Gathering up the wounded as well as he 
could, he fell back slowly from the now de- 
serted hill. Owing to the fact that he had 
no horses, he had found it impossible to 
move the guns, for the possession of which 
so much blood had been spilt. Many of the 
officers at first refused to leave, they sent 
for Scott, but when they heard the sad news 
that he lay almost at thfe point of death, they 
too lost heart. In the meantime the British 
were in full retreat, a fact that owing to the 
darkness Ripley did not know. An Indian 
scout, however, just before daybreak reached 
them and told them of the American retire- 
ment. Slowly and cautiously they returned 
and ascertained the truth, and the next night 
they bivouacked on the field, and General 
Drummond claimed the victory. 

But Lundy's Lane can be carried with 
glory on the flags of both nations. In pro- 
portion to the numbers engaged, a bloodier 
136 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

battle was never fought ; it exceeded even 
that of three weeks previously at Chippewa. 
Nearly 800 Americans and as many English 
had fallen on the slope of that single hill. 
Seventy-six officers on the American side 
were either killed or wounded, out of an 
army of less than 3,000 men. Not a general 
on either side remained unhurt. Even Rip- 
ley, although the last general officer on the 
field, was partially disabled by a wounded 
arm. 

Scott was dreadfully shattered ; his shoul- 
der was crushed badly, and for a long time 
his recovery was in doubt. It was Septem- 
ber before he was able to travel, then slowly 
and with great caution he was invalided 
home on furlough. Everywhere he went he 
was received with great ovation. He arrived 
at Princeton, N. J., on commencement day, 
and the faculty at once sent a committee 
requesting his attendance at Nassau Hall. 
He arrived in the midst of the ceremonies, 
and was escorted to the platform, weak and 
leaning on the arm of his aide-de-camp, Cap- 

137 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

tain Worth. Cheer after cheer rang through 
the building. The students rose to their feet. 
He was so weak that with difficulty he could 
respond by even a few words, but a flush 
passed over his pallid features. His eye 
kindled and he felt that reward that springs 
in the soldier's heart — the only reward he 
values — the consciousness of having obtained 
a place in the affections of his countrymen. 
Princeton granted him the honorary degree 
of master of arts, and amid the redoubled 
cheers it was handed hini. He could scarcely 
make a reply. 

After a few days' rest, although still weak, 
he passed on to Baltimore, that was then 
threatened by a British attack, and by the 
middle of October he had so far recovered 
that he was able to take command of the 
Tenth Military District, with his headquar- 
ters at Washington. At Baltimore he passed 
most of the winter. 

The treaty of peace between America and 
England was signed in February, and as soon 
as the news had reached this country Scott, 
138 



CHIPPEWA TO NIAGARA 

almost by popular acclamation, was offered 
the position of Secretary of War, but on the 
ground of his youth he declined the honor, 
for he was but twenty-eight years of age. 
He was then requested to serve as secretary 
until the American minister, Mr. Crawford, 
could return from Paris, for the latter had 
been appointed in his place. But out of re- 
spect to General Brown and to General Jack- 
son, he also refused this mark of reward and 
distinction on the ground that he could not 
thus supersede his superiors, for the Secre- 
tary, under the President, has control of the 
army. 

One thing, however, he knew well. Wher- 
ever he had seen his duty he had performed 
it to the best of his ability. His country- 
men knew this, and in that lay his great com- 
fort. 



139 



CHAPTER VIII 

HONORS WON 

The country was left in a very unsettled 
condition at the end of the war. It took 
some time for the people to pick up the 
loosened threads of their daily life and re- 
turn to their peaceful labors. The reduction 
of the army from a war footing to one of 
peace required no small labor, and to the 
successful accomplishment of the disbanding 
of the military forces that had been in con- 
tinuous service for almost four years Scott 
lent his best efforts, and so valuable were 
they that the Government, as a reward, not 
only granted him a leave of absence from 
active duty, but sent him to Europe for the 
purpose of restoring his health and also to 
enable him to profit by the knowledge of 
military subjects that he might gain by ex- 
140 



HONORS WON 

tensive travel through a country that had 
just passed through one of the greatest wars 
of all history. 

He was, in a measure, also the represent- 
ative of the State Department, and endowed 
with certain diplomatic powers. 

America was much exercised at this time 
over the revolutionary movement in the 
Spanish possessions in the Western Hemi- 
sphere, and great fears were entertained in 
regard to England's designs upon some of 
the islands in the West Indies, especially the 
island of Cuba. Scott was instructed to find 
out, if possible, the real intention of England 
and of Spain. 

Everywhere the young general was re- 
ceived with hospitality and great courtesy. 
He had letters to the principal military lead- 
ers of Europe, then filled with men who had 
taken part in the great campaigns of Napo- 
leon. Waterloo had just been fought, and 
the ex-Emperor of the French was a home- 
less fugitive. 

Scott visited all the great battle-fields on 
141 1 



( 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

the Continent. With the keen eye that was 
his special gift, he took in everything and 
absorbed a knowledge of the fundamental 
principles of the science of war, as put in 
actual practise, that stood him in good stead 
afterward, as shall be proved. 

In England, where he spent some 
months, he was well received. His quon- 
dam enemies extended him the hand of 
friendship, and his own personality and his 
great charm of manner helped him to make 
his way everywhere. 

In February of 1816 he was stopping in 
London, preparatory to his setting sail for 
his own country, and there, on one occasion, 
while dining at the house of Lord Holland, 
where he had been asked to meet a num- 
ber of officers, all or most of whom had 
served in the American campaign, an amu- 
sing little incident took place. Just before 
the gentlemen went in to dinner. Lord Hol- 
land brought forward a young man in naval 
uniform. 

** General Scott," said his kindly host, 
142 



HONORS WON 

" I wish to present to you Captain Fox, 
commander of the Goshawk. He is very 
anxious to meet you." 

The young man, who was not over 
twenty-six years of age, extended his hand. 

" You will pardon me, general," he said, 
" but since I came into the room and set 
eyes on you I have been most desirous 
of asking you a question, and I am sure 
you will forgive me if I am at all forward 
in doing so." 

" Pray ask it, sir," Scott replied, smiling 
down upon him. 

"In 1807 I was in your country," the 
young officer went on, " and near Lynn 
Haven Bay, in Virginia, I was captured, 
or, to better put it, entertained right roy- 
ally, by a certain Corporal Scott of a body 
of Virginia light horse. Your appearance 
and your remarkable height and stature 
precludes all doubt that you are one 
and the same. I think we have met be- 
fore." 

"We have, indeed, sir," Scott replied. 
143 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

" I remember your visit with the greatest 
of pleasure." 

The captain laughed. 

" It is a most remarkable country, yours," 
he said, " a most remarkable country, sir. 
Less than ten years ago you were a corporal, 
and now you are a major-general. I sup- 
pose in no other service could such a thing 
happen. But, if you will allow me to 
make a remark, it is just that quick rec- 
ognition of merit that causes your service 
to have the advantage of any other. I 
said to myself, after I had returned to 
my ship from your hospitable treatment 
of me, that should a war take place, you 
would be heard from. My surmise was 
altogether correct. It is a great honor to 
meet you, general, and I will request, be- 
fore you leave London, that you will allow 
me to attempt to return, in a measure, 
your courtesy." 

Captain Fox requested that Scott would 
dine with him ; an invitation which was 
promptly accepted. A most pleasant in- 
144 



HONORS WON 

timacy began that lasted during the whole 
of Scott's stay in England. 

During this same dinner another little 
incident took place that is worth recording. 
The dinner had been given in special com- 
pliment to the Earl of Lauderdale, and 
sitting near the general at the table was a 
near relative of the earl, who was a captain 
in the British navy. He was no less than 
the ofhcer who had command of the Bel- 
lerophon, and who had received Napoleon 
the time that the latter became the enforced 
guest of the British nation. 

During a lull in the conversation the 
captain turned to Scott. 

** I would like to ask you, sir/' he in- 
quired in an affected and rather mincing 
manner, " whether the Americans continue 
to build line-of-battle ships and to call them 
frigates ? " 

Scott paused a minute before he replied. 
There was much bitter feeling in the Eng- 
lish navy at the time, owing to the records 
of the separate actions that had taken place 
145 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

between the American and English ships of 
war at sea. Out of thirty-one separate en- 
gagements, the Americans had won twenty- 
nine. But it had been a complaint with the 
English that we had always, in the reports, 
understated the armament of our vessels, 
and that our frigates, though rated as such, 
"had the scantling and armaments of 74's 
in disguise." 

Scott saw that the people seated about 
the table were awaiting his reply. Lord 
Holland, who had always been a friend of 
America and had married an American lady, 
flushed angrily, for the question certainly 
bordered upon the offensive. 

** We have borrowed, sir, a great many 
excellent things from the mother country," 
Scott replied at last, "and some that dis- 
credit both parties, perhaps ; among the 
latter is the practise in question. Thus 
when you took from France the Guerri^re, 
she mounted 49 guns, and you instantly 
rated her on your list as a 36-gun frigate, 
but when we captured her from you we 
146 



HONORS WON 

found on board the same number — 49 
guns." 

The assembled company smiled at the 
discomfited captain, and the Earl of Lauder- 
dale rose to the occasion. 

" General Scott, he said, ** I am de- 
lighted with your reply to my kinsman ! 
Please take a glass of wine with me." 

Thus the incident passed off pleasantly 
and was soon forgotten. 

Scott returned home in the summer of 
1 8 16 and resumed his duties with the army. 
He had not been back long before he mar- 
ried Miss Maria Mayo, the daughter of 
John Mayo, Esquire, of Richmond, Va. 
Scott's popularity was very great. Wher- 
ever he went he was received at dinners 
and entertainments of a semipublic charac- 
ter. Congress, through President Monroe, 
presented him with a gold medal, and of 
this medal there is a strange story told, 
which proves the old adage about honor 
among thieves. The medal was deposited 
for safekeeping in the City Bank of New 
147 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

York. While it was there two thieves 
breaking in at night stole from the insti- 
tution $260,000. The medal was lying in 
a trunk filled with gold. All the gold was 
stolen, but the medal, marked with the own- 
er's name, though taken out of its case, was 
left. Both of the thieves were captured, 
and a few years later, when they had served 
out their sentences in the State prison, 
Scott was traveling in a Hudson River 
steamer, and, between New York and Al- 
bany, was robbed of his purse containing 
$140 by pickpockets who did not know 
him. The principal thief who had been 
concerned in the bank robbery, hearing of 
his loss, bestirred himself among the fra- 
ternity, threatening to have the pickpock- 
ets sent to the State prison if the money 
was not returned. He told them in plain 
words that when he was in the City Bank 
he had seen the medal, but he was not 
such a villain as to rob a gallant soldier. 
In a few days the money was returned to 
General Scott by the high constable with 
148 



HONORS WON 

the report that he had received it from a 
third party. To show that he did not him- 
self pocket the money, the constable was 
required to produce Scott's written receipt 
for its return. 

A slight misunderstanding had taken 
place between General Andrew Jackson and 
Scott soon after the latter's return. It was 
unfortunate that just at this time it should 
have happened, for the country needed its 
illustrious men, and it was desirous that they 
work in sympathy with one another. At 
one time a duel between Scott and Jackson 
was threatened, but luckily it did not take 
place, and years after a reconciliation was 
effected. The young general was employed 
in departmental work and the labors incident 
to the position until 1832, when again he was 
ordered to active service. At the head of 
something under a thousand men he started 
west to finish the Black Hawk Indian war 
that had been dragging on for some months. 
A most dreadful experience was his. 

Asiatic cholera broke out among his sol- 
11 149 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

diers while they were on a boat on the lake 
headed for Chicago. Although it had only- 
appeared a few days before he landed, 48 
privates and 4 officers had died and over 80 
were on the sick-list. 

The inhabitants fled from the troops. A 
panic seized everybody on the lake shore, 
and, to add to the distress, General Atkinson 
sent on word for Scott to hurry up his reen- 
forcements. At once he sent forward all of 
his men who were able to march. But the 
plague went with them ; they died like sheep 
along the road ! Inside of ten days, out of 
the nine hundred and fifty, only four hundred 
remained alive. Scott himself suffered ex- 
tremely from what the doctors thought were 
the preliminaries of the disease, and was 
forced to stay behind in Chicago. But he 
did not take to his bed ; instead he spent his 
time among the sick, assisting the doctors 
and talking with and encouraging the suf- 
erers. At last, though considerably weak- 
ened, he hastened on to overtake his forces. 
He was shocked and broken-hearted at the 
150 



HONORS WON 

scenes he found in the wake of his little 
army. Dying men and newly made graves 
marked its track. 

When at last, with about 200 of his men 
who were capable of lighting, he joined 
General Atkinson, the latter had already 
fought a decisive fight near Prairie du Chien 
at Bad Axe, where the power of the Black 
Hawks was destroyed. 

The regulars were established at the camp 
at Rock Island, where again the awful cholera 
broke out, and again Scott, although he could 
with ease have avoided it, took up the duty 
of assistant surgeon and chaplain. At last 
the epidemic was stamped out, or, better, 
wore itself away, for little was understood 
about the proper treatment of such dis- 
eases. Antiseptics or disinfectants were un- 
known. 

Scott now assisted in arranging the treaties 
with the Indian tribes of the Sacs, Foxes, and 
Winnebagoes. He seemed to have the same 
gift of inspiring perfect confidence among 
the savages as he had among his own troops, 
151 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

and the chiefs trusted to his word and listened 
to his sound advice and counsel. 

As soon as he had returned, General Jack- 
son despatched him to South Carolina to take 
command of affairs there, for the early dis- 
loyalty of the State was made evident, and 
the Disunionists, or Nullifiers, had already 
begun to show their power. But under 
Scott's cool and able management the de- 
fenses and the military positions were oc- 
cupied, and without bloodshed the trouble 
was smoothed over. 

• In 1836, at the beginning of the year, 
Scott was ordered to Florida to attempt to 
end the Seminole war, which the great chief 
Osceola had been wagmg for years against 
the settlers. His plans for the campaign 
were not backed up by the Administration, 
and, upon his recall, he demanded a court- 
martial, which exonerated him from blame 
for the non-success that followed his en- 
deavors. 

In 1837 he was ordered to the Canadian 
frontier again. It looked as if there would 
152 



HONORS WON 

be more trouble between England and the 
United States. There had been open riot- 
ing, and privately equipped expeditions had 
waged a species of guerrilla warfare across 
the border. 

During the winter of 1838 he was kept 
constantly moving in an effort to put down 
these disturbances and to act as peacemaker. 
Frequently he was to be found addressing 
meetings of citizens and proclaiming that 
the neutrality of the United States must be 
preserved at all hazards. On more than one 
occasion it was only his own personality and 
unbending attention to duty and his alle- 
giance to his one idea that prevented catas- 
trophe and war. 

In the spring of 1839 he superintended 
the removal of the Cherokee Indians to their 
Western reservation. Once more it was by 
his firmness, humanity, generosity, and kind- 
ness that he succeeded, without a single 
outbreak, in removing 15,000 Indians from 
the hunting-grounds of the forefathers. 
While on his way out West he was recalled 
153 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

by an urgent message that demanded again 
his presence on the Canadian frontier. Hos- 
tilities were threatened between Maine and 
New Brunswick. It was hard work for 
Scott to prevent the inhabitants of both old 
colonies, so long enemies, from springing at 
each other's throats ; but he restored order, 
and the dispute was at length settled by the 
now famous Ashburton treaty. In the pre- 
liminary negotiations Scott won for himself 
the name of the " Pacificator." 

On the death of General Macomb, in 
1 84 1, General Scott found himself in com- 
mand of the entire army of the United 
States. It was a time of peace, so far as 
conflicts with foreign nations were con- 
cerned ; but there were great political rival- 
ries and much agitation. Party feeling ran 
high ; blind partizanship took the place of 
national service, and to recount all of the 
difficulties and intrigues that led up to the 
greatest chapter of our hero's life would take 
more space than could be afforded in a book 
that deals only with his active life. But in 
154 



HONORS WON 

1846, almost without preparation, and cer- 
tainly without warning to the people at 
large, America found herself plunged into a 
war with Mexico, and this brings into the 
telling probably the most remarkable single 
campaign of all of our national history. 



155 



CHAPTER IX 

THE CAPTURE OF VERA CRUZ 

General Taylor, with an army of about 
4,000 men, was down on the bank of the 
Rio Grande in the latter part of March, 
1846. HostiHties had commenced, and bor- 
der warfare had been .going on for some 
time, but there had been no invasion of 
Mexico by any large force of men. But 
soon General Taylor's guns commanded 
Matamoras. The advance of and the won- 
derful victories of the little American army 
under him caused a furor throughout the 
country. Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, 
and Monterey will ever be carried upon the 
flags of the regiments that took part in 
these memorable battles. Then Buena 
Vista followed. Taylor's name was ac- 
claimed everywhere ; his dashing bravery 
156 



THE CAPTURE OF VERA CRUZ 

and reckless spirit won for him hosts of 
devoted followers. And Taylor had po- 
litical aspirations, it was well known. Presi- 
dent Polk was not only jealous but timor- 
ous. He did not like to have a rival loom- 
ing upon the political horizon. 

Scott, who perhaps was the strongest 
man in the country so far as popularity 
went among military men, was ambitious, 
and this the President knew well. By 
this time our hero was no longer young, 
or even middle-aged. He had arrived at 
those years when, ripe with honors, men are 
generally accustomed to see younger men 
step by them to the front, and contentedly 
to watch them go, with words of sage coun- 
sel and encouragement. 

Not so with Scott. Beneath that broad 
bosom beat a young man's heart ; his eye 
was clear and far-seeing. His huge frame, 
although grown heavy, was not unwieldy, 
and he yet merited the description of him 
given by a great Englishman who had met 
him when in London, and who said he 
IS7 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

looked "like a walking cathedral." His 
intense self-reliance had not withered with 
the years that had passed over his head. 
He perhaps had grown more self-assertive, 
and as he knew that very soon he would 
have to put by the sword and give up the 
saddle, his ambition still prompted him, 
while he could make use of the faculties 
with which nature had endowed him, to 
give them active employment. Again and 
again he had requested that the President 
should give him some, field command. He 
had volunteered advice and had offered sug- 
gestion, but his services apparently were not 
required, and his suggestions were ignored. 

Fretting at his enforced idleness, he tried 
to persuade President Polk that unless some 
larger demonstration and more forceful 
handling of the war took place, disaster was 
sure to follow. Rumors of the outlawry 
existing along the Mexican border, and of 
the behavior of some of the irregular forces 
attached to General Taylor's army, and even 
of the conduct of some of his troops and 
158 



THE CAPTURE OF VERA CRUZ 

officers, began to circulate. His little army 
had fought bravely, it is true, but their 
leader, although an intrepid man, had not 
the gift or the power of instillmg or exact- 
ing strict discipline. There had been much 
unnecessary bloodshed and great pillaging 
and destruction of property. 

And now the news came that the fight- 
ing force, depleted by the losses in their 
successive victories, and hardly sustained by 
the inadequate system of supply, was in 
danger of being cut off and surrounded by 
Mexican forces. Some action was neces- 
sary, but a stronger reason than all this was 
soon brought to bear upon the President. 
Taylor's popularity still grew ; he was be- 
coming a dangerous rival, and the people 
were clamoring that he should not be neg- 
lected. So Scott was sent for and was given 
full command of the new expedition that 
was to sail for the Gulf, there to under- 
take the invasion of the country and the at- 
tempted investment of the Mexican capital. 

On the 30th of November Scott started 
159 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

overland for New Orleans. Vera Cruz, 
that had been spoken of as the Gibraltar of 
Mexico, was to be the object of his first 
attack. President Polk had informed him, 
prior to his departure, that he placed the 
greatest dependence upon him, that he relied 
on his genius and energy, and that he was 
to have supreme command. Scott declared 
everywhere to his friends that the President 
had acted nobly, and yet when the general 
was but a few miles away from Washington 
Polk had set afoot a plan to have a lieuten- 
ant-general appointed who would actually 
be at the head of all military affairs, and 
under whose direction his subordinates 
would have to act. 

When Scott arrived at New Orleans this 
fact and the existence of the plot was di- 
vulged to him ; he was shown a letter from 
Senator Barrow that told of the President's 
plans in detail. Scott could hardly believe 
it possible ; he could not credit the Presi- 
dent with such behavior, and it was not 
until later, when he had reached the Rio 
1 60 



THE CAPTURE OF VERA CRUZ 

Grande, that he became convinced against 
his will. As soon as he had arrived at Tam- 
pico and joined the army he set at work to 
right the abuses which he found to be, alas, 
too many. Slackness of discipline and acts 
of violence were now to be punished in the 
severest manner. Justice was to be meted 
out to offenders, and kindness, so much as 
was compatible with warfare, to the con- 
quered foe. It was a policy that, carried 
out to the letter, bore good fruit. 

Congress, that was in the main patriotic, 
although in a measure half-hearted in regard 
to the war, had before it a bill for the in- 
crease of the army, but it was now delayed 
by the schemes of the political party that 
sought for its own ends to secure the ap- 
pointment of a lieutenant-general, and there- 
fore the bill was delayed at Washington. 
However, at the front delay was impossible ; 
Scott knew that the dreaded scourge of yel- 
low fever, the plague of the low coast coun- 
try, would make its appearance at Vera 
Cruz in the early spring, and that if his 
i6i 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

army was detained, disease more deadly than 
bullets, more sweeping than the bayonets of 
any force the foe could muster, would crum- 
ple and destroy his army, and spell defeat 
and ruin. He must effect a lodgment on 
the high and healthy table -lands, or wait 
another year. 

Another year, and what might happen ? 
No one could tell. The whole campaign 
that had begun so brilliantly might dwindle 
to defeat and abandonment, disgrace instead 
of glory would settle on the American flag, 
the prestige so hardly gained would be lost 
forever, and the loss would be incalculable, 
for the future morale of the army depended 
upon its continuance of its brilliant and 
honorable record; its popularity also, for a 
people and a republic especially have no 
sympathy with unsuccess. He must act at 
once, and on his own responsibility. The 
total numbers of the fighting men at his dis- 
posal were under 24,000. The advantages 
gained by Taylor must not be forgotten or 
abandoned. Scott feared also that the ships 
162 



THE CArrURE OF VERA CRUZ 

that were waiting to transport his troops 
might be withdrawn. 

So, on the 9th of March, with 12,000 
men that he had assembled on the island of 
Lobos, 130 miles from Vera Cruz, he set 
sail, leaving behind him 10,000 men to sup- 
port and to hold the country under Taylor. 

A very careful reconnoissance and survey 
had been made of Vera Cruz and its sur- 
roundings, and a spot had been selected west 
of the island of Sacrificios for the landing. 
As the steamer Massachusetts passed through 
the fleet, Scott, standing on the quarter-deck, 
replied to the salutes and to the cheers. The 
yards were manned, bugles rang merrily, and 
the regimental band struck up the popular 
and patriotic melodies. It was a brilliant 
day. There was just enough breeze to fill 
all sails, and as the Massachusetts forged 
away to the head of the line, the general's 
heart was filled with encouragement and 
hope, and not only that ; he felt a great 
and wide trust in the men who were to fol- 
low him. Yet he knew that he was start- 
163 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

ing out with his bridges burning behind him 
— that one false step, one mistake, would 
mean his instant recall, the wreck of his 
schemes and plans, and the sinking forever 
of his sun upon the evening of his active 
life, never to rise again. These feelings 
almost overcame him, and well he knew that 
his position was understood, for just as every 
anchor was weighed and the fleet in full sail 
he turned to the group of officers who were 
standing near him on the Massachusetts' 
deck. 

" Gentlemen," he said, " I am entering 
upon this campaign with a halter around my 
neck. The end of it is at Washington, and 
they are ruthless executioners ; success is 
absolutely necessary, and I expect you, my 
young friends, to get this halter off for me." 
No one repli-ed. His chief of staff stepped 
forward and grasped him by the hand. But 
it was as if a compact had been made by all 
— an understanding that, spreading through 
the rank and file, everywhere, meant devo- 
tion to the one idea. They would carry the 
164 



THE CAPTURE OF VERA CRUZ 

flag forward as long as there was left a man 
to lift it from the ground if ever for an in- 
stant it might fall. 

It was fully expected that there would 
be a determined resistance to the landing of 
the American troops. The approach of the 
fleet was so long heralded and there had 
been so much time for preparation, owing 
to the numerous delays, that it seemed only 
sensible to expect that the lodgment of the 
troops upon the shore would only take place 
with great difficulty and much loss of men. 
Therefore, as soon as the ships had reached 
their destined positions, five gunboats and 
two steamers were ordered to proceed in 
toward the beach, and, there coming to 
anchor, they were expected to command the 
point of debarkation with their broadsides. 

Slowly and anxiously watched from the 
transports and frigates, they went in. Not 
a shot was fired, and they took their allotted 
places unmolested. In the meantime, from 
all the vessels, the large surf-boats that were 
necessary to effect a safe landing through 
13 165 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

the rolling sea were lowered away ; and in 
the 67 boats 5,500 men were crowded, load- 
ing them to the gunwales. It was like the 
day of sailing — bright and beautiful. The 
brilliant uniforms and the polished arms, 
the fluttering flags, under the bright morn- 
ing sun, made a wondrous show. War was 
more of a pageant, more of a spectacular 
exhibition, in those days, when foemen 
fought within full view of one another, and 
the sight of an enemy's well-dressed and 
serried ranks was a telling factor. Invisi- 
bility was not desired especially — the mere 
sight of man was used to lessen the courage 
of an adversary. 

As the boats shoved out from the shelter 
of the ships, the bands began playing, and, 
under the crash of drum and cymbal and the 
blare of trumpets, the rowers gave way and 
bent their backs to the long sweeps. Within 
plain sight rose the roofs and domes and 
spires of Vera Cruz. They passed the line 
of the waiting guard-ships, hailed by cheers, 
and it became a race for the shore. The un- 
166 



THE CAPTURE OF VERA CRUZ 

dulating line of boats lifted and sank in the 
heavy swell. Soon they were in the midst 
of the tumbling smother where the waters 
broke. 

Scott, watching from the deck oi the 
flagship, at last saw some of the men spring 
out, almost shoulder deep, into the surf, and 
struggle up the beach. Leading them all 
was a color sergeant, carrying the Stars and 
Stripes. With a dozen men at his heels he 
rushed across the strip of sand, and, reaching 
a high sand dune, planted there the flagstaff 
and threw the colors, rippling, out to the 
breeze. Cheer after cheer rolled back from 
the shore and was echoed frotn the ships. 
Without a shot being fired a landing had 
been effected. The second and third divi- 
sions followed, and by ten o'clock the 12,000 
men were marching to the positions that had 
been assigned them under the brilliant, star- 
sprinkled sky. 

But now the fortresses of the city had 
awakened. Before daylight the cannon were 
roaring, and the shells, leaving their track of 
167 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

fire behind them, were shrieking out toward 
the moving forces of the Americans, that did 
not deign yet to reply, but marched on to 
the exact spots that they had been told to 
occupy. 

By the evening of the next day the city 
was entirely surrounded, and the troops 
rested, after digging trenches. A fierce 
norther, or heavy gale, setting in, it was 
found necessary to delay operations, as it 
was impossible to land any of the heavy 
ordnance, and the ships were with difficulty 
prevented from dragging their anchors and 
being forced to put out to sea. At the end 
of a week, however, all was in readiness, and 
on the 2 2d a summons was sent by Scott to 
Morales, the governor of the fort, ordering 
him to surrender, and, at the same time, 
offering safeguard for the removal of the 
women and children and the foreign consuls 
and officers with their families. For two 
days he waited, but on the 24th a reply came 
rejecting all terms, and informing him that 
no one would leave the city under any pre- 
168 



THE CAPTURE OF VERA CRUZ 

tense, and that the governor intended to de- 
fend it with his last gasp. Immediately upon 
the receipt of this reply, Scott opened fire, 
but, reserving his full strength, it was not 
until the evening of the 25th that all his 
guns were in action. For five miles the en- 
filading and surrounding batteries poured in 
an awful cannonade. Buildings crumbled 
beneath the weight of the solid shot, spires 
and domes crushed and fell, and the streets 
were filled with whirring splinters, hurtling 
masonry, and exploding shells. 

The ships had opened also, and their 
well-timed broadsides, in regular succession, 
roared and reverberated from hill to hill. 
Even at night the firing was kept up, and, 
the Mexicans replying, the heavens were 
crossed and recrossed by the network of red 
shell tracks. The morning of the 26th 
dawned and showed great gaps in the wall, 
while from the city rose groans and cries. 
Alas, it had been a dreadful time for the 
inhabitants ! In many cases families had 
been crushed under the tumbling roofs and 
169 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

crumbling houses. A white flag soon ap- 
peared. The governor asked for an armis- 
tice ; he had changed his first intention. The 
consuls of the foreign powers requested a 
safeguard for themselves, and, through them, 
the governor implored that the women and 
children might now be taken to places of 
safety ; but war is war, and any weapon is a 
weapon when it comes to hand. Scott re- 
plied that the governor had decided already 
and must abide by the consequence. The 
responsibility would now be his, and with 
this message the bearer of the white flag re- 
turned. Immediately the Mexican gunners 
could be seen forming at their pieces, and 
the bugles raised their thrilling notes back 
of the city's ramparts, but there were the 
wide gaps made by the heavy, solid shot, 
tempting the daring of the young officers, 
urging them to deeds of valor. A delega- 
tion headed by a colonel of one of the in- 
fantry regiments approached Scott. A re- 
quest was made of him to allow a body formed 
of volunteers to storm the fortress, and carry 
170 



THE CAPTURE OF VERA CRUZ 

the castle of San Juan d'Ulloa, the citadel 
that towered above them all. 

Scott looked calmly at the colonel and at 
the anxious group of young men who awaited 
the result of the inquiry. 

" How many men do you suppose it 
would cost to do it ? " he asked. 

** Possibly 2,000 or 2,500," the officer re- 
plied, making a swift mental calculation. 
** It would depend upon circumstance." 

Scott smiled at him and then grew stern. 

" But I can take it with much less sacri- 
fice," he said at last. 

"Yes, general," replied the fiery colonel, 
" but the army will win no glory and the 
officers will have no opportunities to distin- 
guish themselves." 

Scott stepped out before the group so 
that his words could be heard by all, and 
raising his voice, he replied imperiously : 
" Remember, gentlemen, that a commander 
who deliberately sacrifices one life more than 
is necessary to secure a victory is guilty of 
murder. Back to your posts, sirs ! " 

171 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

The forts had now begun to open up 
again. Scott mounted his huge horse — for it 
required a remarkably strong and able beast 
to carry him — and rode down the line of 
battle. As he approached an angle of the 
earthwork where the shot was flying thickest, 
he noticed some gunners and bombardiers 
climb up in full sight to see the effect of 
their own fire. 

" Down, men," he said, " down ! Don't 
expose yourselves." 

From where he sat he motioned to them 
fiercely with his arm. A private standing 
near by saluted him. 

"But, general," he said, "you are ex- 
posed." 

Scott almost laughed at the fellow's bold- 
ness. 

" Oh," he replied, " generals nowadays 
can be made out of anybody, but good men 
are hard to get ! " 

With that he rode on. 

Before long — on the afternoon of the 
27th — a second flag of truce was sent out, 
172 



THE CAPTURE OF VERA CRUZ 

and Governor Morales surrendered the city 
and the castle ; the garrisons marched out, 
laying down their arms, and being paroled as 
prisoners of war, were allowed to depart to 
their homes. The loss to the American side 
was very small, including killed and wounded, 
64 officers and men. The Mexicans' loss 
was somewhat greater, but it was unfortunate 
there were so many non-combatants who 
met their death. 

The proceeds of the surrender — the fruits 
of victory — were 5,000 prisoners, nearly 
10,000 stands of arms, 400 pieces of ord- 
nance, and large stores of ammunition. The 
Gibraltar of Mexico had fallen in twenty 
days from the time that Scott had assumed 
the active campaign. 



173 



CHAPTER X 

CERRO GORDO 

It was not until the 12th of April that 
General Scott was able to leave Vera Cruz. 
The difficulty in getting started arose from 
the lack of draft animals — horses and mules 
— and the small number of wagons supplied 
by the Government. A strange incident 
took place here that is not generally men- 
tioned in the histories of the campaign, but 
it shows how Scott, although self-reliant and 
almost egotistical at times, could adapt him- 
self to circumstances, and how unerringly he 
formed his judgment of men and of affairs. 

It was absolutely necessary to get the 
army out of the low plain on to the high and 
healthy table-land that lay to the westward, 
back of the mountains at an altitude of 
about 5,000 to 6,000 feet. Nothing but the 

174 



CERRO GORDO 

strong northerly gales that had prevailed for 
almost a fortnight had prevented the yellow- 
fever from appearing in the city. It was 
imperative that the army should move. It 
was necessary, of course, to leave a garrison 
behind at Vera Cruz, and Scott, in count- 
ing up his forces, found that he had as an 
army of invasion, when this force was de- 
ducted, scarcely 8,000 men. Think of it ! 
Eight thousand men to invade a country 
well prepared and warlike ! Eight thousand 
men to enter the almost unknown mountain 
passes, forced to cut themselves off from 
their supplies and to depend upon the coun- 
try ! Between them and the capital city lay, 
for all they knew, a score of battle-fields. 
Accurate information they had of at least six 
strong positions where the enemy could 
gather a force three times their own. It was 
go forward or turn back. There was no 
turn back in Scott's make-up. The fires of 
youth still burned in his heart. He may 
have lost some of the impulsiveness, but all 
of the energy, all of the ambition, remained. 
175 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

But how could he move without animals 
to drag his guns and transport wagons ? He 
was in a quandary. It took in those days 
months almost to communicate with Wash- 
ington. Something must be done. There 
happened to be an American contractor in 
Vera Cruz who had lived for a long time in 
Mexico. He knew the people and spoke 
the language ; and he also knew that not 
many miles away in the country were thou- 
sands of mules and horses, and that if the 
American army advanced the people would 
probably drive their live-stock back into the 
mountains, hiding them away in inaccessible 
places. There was also good reason to sup- 
pose that the Mexican military authorities 
would soon be seizing all the animals they 
could for their own use, and would kill those 
they could not use, in order to prevent their 
falling into the hands of the Americans. 
Scott intended to carry out his plans of just 
treatment of the inhabitants respecting per- 
sons and property, and attempting to rec- 
oncile the landowners and dwellers in the 
176 



CERRO GORDO 

country through which his army had to pass. 
But up to this time there had been Httle 
opportunity outside of the walls of Vera 
Cruz for convincing the people of his inten- 
tions. 

The American contractor had met the 
general, and knowing of the difficulties, sug- 
gested a plan ; it was a bold and startling 
one. Nothing more nor less than that Scott, 
on his own authority, should appoint him 
the contractor, the financial agent of the 
United States Government, with full power, 
and that he should override all red tape and 
departmental delays, and place in his hands 
as much ready money as he had at his com- 
mand. Now, in all the paymasters' depart- 
ments, and at Scott's disposal, there was 
less than $60,000 in hard cash. Of course 
he could have signed due-bills upon the 
American Government, but that would mean 
little to the half-educated and naturally sus- 
picious Mexicans. Their confidence must 
be won. Scott drew upon the pay depart- 
ments and borrowed what money he could 
177 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

in a legitimate way in tlie city of Vera Cruz. 
Putting $8,000 in gold into four bags, the 
contractor, accompanied by two or three 
friendly Mexicans, started out on horseback 
on the road to Jalapa. At every wayside 
inn he scattered money in all directions — 
not a lazy, idling peon but received a gold 
piece ; children scrambled for handfuls of 
them, and the news of him went on ahead. 
Not until he was some distance from Vera 
Cruz did he make a single purchase, and 
then he bought a half-score of fine mules and 
horses at their owners' prices, stating that 
he would return again in three or four days 
and pay in gold more money for draft ani- 
mals than they had ever brought before in 
the memory of the oldest inhabitant. 

His second expedition was a repetition 
of his first, only he progressed farther into 
the country. He treated everybody who 
would drink or eat with him, and by this 
time the news of the invader's lavishness 
had spread broadcast. Small farmers and 
peons with animals to sell brought them to 
178 



CERRO GORDO 

the places that he had appointed, and there 
received cash on the nail for their mules 
and horses. Scott was forced to trust this 
man implicity, and if the contractor had not 
been honest, the general's career might have 
been ruined ; but all went well. At the end 
of a week, bodies of cavalry rode out into 
the plains in all directions without fear of 
molestation ; the people greeted them as 
friends, and they drove back with purchased 
animals into the American camp. 

At last, by the 12th of March, enough 
live stock and horses were secured to war- 
rant moving forward the army, although it 
was not until the 15th that some of the 
heavy guns received their complements, and 
followed in the wake of the cavalry and 
infantry and light artillery. But even more 
good had been accomplished than the pur- 
chase of the animals meant. The reputa- 
tion for honest dealing and right purpose 
of the Americans spread everywhere before 
them. These people had not come to pil- 
lage and to ruin. They paid their way. 
179 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

Property was safe. There was no looting, 
as we call it now, no cruel pillaging, or 
rapine. The policy bore great fruit. 

Three days after leaving Vera Cruz, 
Scott reached the base of the mountains, 
and before him towered the fortress and 
entrenched position of Cerro Gordo — a 
position almost impregnable at first sight, 
and yet one that must be taken before 
his army could move to the table-lands be- 
yond. The Mexicans had labored long to 
strengthen this wonderful position. Nature 
herself had done much in that direction. A 
deep river crossed by a single bridge and only 
fordable in one or two places skirted the 
foot of the heights. Beyond it, tier upon 
tier, rose the successive lines of fortifica- 
tions, bristling with guns, the trenches filled 
with infantry supplied with ammunition for 
a month's investment. The road that the 
army would have to take wound along the 
side of the mountain, through deep and nar- 
row gorges, almost to the very top where 
it debouched out upon the plain ; but there, 
1 80 



CERRO GORDO 

crowning the eminence, was the strongest 
fort of all — a Spanish-built castle and a 
tower of stone. Heavy artillery filled every 
embrasure, bastion and escarpment were 
lined with guns. They commanded all of 
the defenses below, every one of which 
would have to be carried in succession be- 
fore the top could be reached. Once fallen, 
however, and in the American possession, 
the broad traveled road lay straight for the 
city of Mexico. 

General Twiggs, who had first arrived 
and had reconnoitered the position, had de- 
termined to storm it at once from the front. 
But General Patterson, joining him with 
his volunteers, persuaded him to wait for 
Scott's arrival. As soon as the general 
came up and looked over the ground, he 
saw the utter impossibility of a frontal at- 
tack. It would be sheer butchery to send 
men against those heavy batteries. No 
matter how brave they were, or how boldly 
they pressed forward, the destruction of his 
army would result. Even if a last forlorn 
13 i8i 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

hope could climb the hill, there would still 
be the castle and the great stone tower to 
be reckoned with. Scott noticed, however, 
that across the river were two hills almost as 
high as Cerro Gordo, to the left and right. 
Sending out an armed reconnoissance under 
charge of two young and able engineers 
from West Point (Captain Robert E. Lee 
and Lieutenant Beauregard, soon known to 
fame), he discovered that it was possible to 
build a road around the mountain on the 
opposite side of the. river, and that if the 
fire of the batteries could be diverted, or 
their positions partially destroyed, it would 
be possible for the mounted men and light 
infantry to turn the entire position and gain 
the national road at a point back of the 
Mexican entrenchments. 

On the night of the 14th the work began. 
Hidden from sight of the Mexicans, for 
three days and nights the soldiers toiled, 
and, wonderful to relate, the intention was 
not discovered until the 17th, when the 
batteries opened fire upon the working par- 
182 



CERRO GORDO 

ties, but by the evening of that day the road 
was completed, and now it was necessary to 
finish the other part of the plan. The eager 
General Twiggs was given an order that well 
suited his ambitious spirit. It was to storm 
the second hill. This was but slightly lower 
than the crest of Cerro Gordo, and was held 
by a small detachment of the enemy in a 
round fort at the top. 

Just before sunset Twiggs crossed the 
stream, and before the Mexicans were aware 
of his intention, his men swarmed up the 
heights and overwhelmed the force that 
bravely attempted to hold it. It was dark 
before the work was accomplished, but be- 
tween that time and daylight there was 
much to be done. An almost impossible 
task lay before the American troops. Noth- 
ing more than lifting up the almost precipi- 
tous sides of the mountain, in the pitch 
darkness, the heavy guns that should give 
battle to the Mexican batteries. No doubt 
the enemy believed that the position that 
Twiggs had gained could not be held. The 
183 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

presence of infantry there did not disturb 
them in the least, for they knew that they 
could not hold their position without the 
aid of artillery, and although the hill com- 
manded all of their lower entrenchments 
on the slopes, the latter were safe, as they 
were well out of range of musket-shot. 
But much was doing in the American camp ; 
a bridge had been built and a heavy 24- 
pounder and two 24-pound howitzers were 
taken to the base of the hill. They had to 
be lifted somehow to " the top ; almost 900 
feet high the steep sides of the mountain 
towered above them. 

It was very dark, for the night was 
cloudy. A huge fire was built at the foot 
of the gorge, and its flames lit the rocky 
sides and showed the toiling men their way 
at the beginning of their task. Five hun- 
dred men were detailed to every gun ; ropes 
and snatch-blocks were rigged about the 
boulders. A reserve force of 500 men were 
held in readiness to take the place of their 
comrades when they should become wearied 
184 



CERRO GORDO 

by the arduous work. Inch by inch and 
foot by foot the heavy burdens crept up the 
mountainsides. The men worked silently. 
The officers spoke in low voices, for the 
Mexicans must not be advised of their in- 
tentions. By four o'clock in the morning 
the guns were in position. Around each 
was built a semicircle of huge stones, and a 
long stone wall flanking them on the west- 
ern side was hastily thrown up, behind 
which the supporting infantry took their 
positions. Not a man in the American 
camp slept that night. When dawn came, 
and the sun began to show above the low, 
eastern horizon it was a wondrous sight ! 
The Mexican bugles rang clear and loud, 
and the troops on the slopes of the hill at 
Cerro Gordo went to their positions. Little 
did they know that looking down upon 
them from a point of vantage, hundreds of 
feet above, their enemies' guns were waiting. 
The bodies of infantry and the brilliantly 
uniformed cavalry regiments moved out, and 
suddenly, from out of the sky almost, down 
185 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

poured upon them the fire of shot and shell. 
The lower batteries were almost helpless, 
but the fort of Cerro Gordo and the castle, 
almost 200 feet higher than the hill the 
Americans held, concentrated its fire on 
the little battery that for a long time dis- 
dained to make reply, keeping up a con- 
stant discharge upon the dismayed forces 
beneath them in the valley. 

Along the sides of the gorge small bodies 
of the troops crept forward on either side, 
and soon the rattle of musketry was added 
to the din of the great guns. The tops of 
the hills smoked like volcanoes. The iron 
and leaden hail swept down the slopes. 

And now the American troops in the 
wide, green plain below could be seen mov- 
ing forward. They had crossed the river, 
and the mounted forces at full gallop charged 
up the road the engineers had built so skil- 
fully. Harney's forces turned to the left, 
and swept over the first lines of Mexican en- 
trenchments. Pillow, who was detailed to 
make a frontal attack on the lower batteries, 
186 



CERRO GORDO 

was for an instant repulsed, but the Second, 
Seventh, and Third Infantry, with the Rifles, 
backed by the First and Fourth Artillery, 
had now got in the flank and rear of the 
lower protecting batteries, and were scram- 
bling over the naked rocks toward the crest 
of the hill. Higher and higher they climbed, 
Harney on foot leading them. The first 
rank was met with a murderous volley, but 
the second rank swept to them, and, with 
the remnant of the first, they poured over 
the walls of the citadel from all directions. 
They charged over guns and gunners with a 
wild, shrill cheer that reached their comrades 
on the hill beyond. Harney, who in his 
eagerness had pressed on too fast, mounted 
a corner of the parapet alone. A dozen 
rifles were fired at him. His clothing and 
hat were pierced, but he was unharmed. The 
gallant Shields was pressing on to his assist- 
ance, shouting, although his voice was lost 
amid the deafening roar, "We are coming, 
we are coming ! " when he was pierced by a 
ball through the lungs. 
187 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

Harney turned, and, as if he was at the 
head of a host of followers, instead of a mere 
handful, shouted out orders to his fancied 
battalions, waving his sword, and then fol- 
lowed by not more than twenty brave spirits, 
he leaped down inside the Mexican entrench- 
ments. 

Scott, who had pressed along the road, 
came upon an officer who was still moving 
forward, holding one badly shattered arm 
with the other, his sword hitched under his 
elbow. Scott recognized Captain Patten, a 
young West Pointer. 

"Are you badly hurt, sir?" Scott in- 
quired. 

The young officer did not reply to the 
question, but letting go his wounded arm, he 
pointed with the sound one : 

" Look, general," he cried, " look ! Our 
men are in the entrenchments." 

Scott glanced up and was just in time to 

see the blue uniforms sweep like a hurricane 

over the hill crest. The day was won. In a 

few minutes after that last final charge the 

i88 



CERRO GORDO 

firing had drifted away to a few spattering 
shots among the hills and out on the Western 
plains. 

Scott pressed his horse forward and gained 
the crest where the panting soldiers stood, 
slowly forming themselves into their lines 
again. 

The hill was strewn with dead and 
wounded. The latter raised themselves half 
upright as he passed and cheered him, but 
when he reached the top and found himself 
among his brave battalions, emotion almost 
overcame him. He lifted his heavy hat, and 
sweeping his arm about him, with a wide 
gesture he seemed to take every man in at a 
glance. 

" Soldiers," he cried, " I could take every 
one of you to my bosom ! " 

And then he saw standing a little way 
apart a group of young West Pointers, some 
scarcely more than boys, who had led their 
veteran regiments over the rough way up the 
hill. The tears sprang to his eyes, his voice 
choked, words failed him. He could think 
189 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

of nothing. Closing his fist, he shook it at 
the young men, lovingly, half playfully. 

" Oh, you young rascals, you ! " he said. 
And fearing to say more, he touched his 
horse with his spurs and rode out from the 
shadow of th6 ramparts to the plain be- 
yond. 

Far away rolled a great cloud of dust, 
occasional shots sounded here and there. 
The American dragoons were sweeping after 
the retreating Mexican cavalry, who, although 
in greater numbers, were in full retreat upon 
Jalapa. 

With tired sword-arms and blades drip- 
ping red, they turned back to join their cheer- 
ing comrades on the field of Cerro Gordo. 

The defenders of the Mexican position 
had numbered not less than 15,000. Scott 
found that he had taken 3,000 prisoners, 
small arms to the number of 8,000, and 
more pieces of artillery by double the num- 
ber than he possessed in his whole army. 
His losses, taking into account the value 
of the position gained, were small, the casual- 
190 



CERRO GORDO 

ties being about 250, the enemy's exceeding 
this by more than a hundred. 

Scott stated that it would take a brigade 
and a half of mules to transport the artillery 
captured in this single engagement. With- 
out an hour's delay he prepared to press on 
along the national road to the city of Jalapa, 
whose towers and houses were in plain sight. 
Quietly the American army entered without 
opposition on the day following. There for 
some weeks they were to rest. 



191 



CHAPTER XI 

IN SIGHT OF MEXICO 

While the main army waited at Jalapa, 
General Scott threw forward Worth's divi- 
sion, and, taking advantage of the consterna- 
tion and panic that had seized the Mexican 
ranks, a small body Of Americans took the 
formidable castle and fort of Perope, and 
followed this by entering the big city of 
Puebla, that surrendered without firing a 
gun. 

Now, delays were absolutely necessary, 
and something in the form of discomfiture 
awaited the victorious general. The 4,000 
volunteers who had accompanied him and 
who had done good fighting were very close 
to the time of the expiration of their enlist- 
ment ; the great majority of them intended 
to claim the privileges under which they had 
192 



IN SIGHT OF MEXICO 

entered the service, and demanded that they 
should be returned home to the United 
States as soon as they had received their dis- 
charge. They all, however, declared that 
they would remain until the very last day of 
their term of service. But, as this would 
send them back to the coast at the time that 
yellow fever would most likely be raging, 
Scott determined to let them go at once, 
and they were sent back. For nearly a 
month the troops waited wearily for their 
supplies. But at length, at the end of May, 
Scott went forward with the reserve and 
joined General Worth at Puebla, where he 
had entered on the 15th. 

A strong garrison was left behind under 
General Childs at Jalapa, in order to keep 
the lines of communication open with Vera 
Cruz, and this, of course, depleted still further 
the worn and scanty ranks. Now gathered 
at his last stopping place he could muster 
scarcely 5,000 effective men. 

What did he write of this peculiarly try- 
ing time ? No complaints, although he was 
193 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

galled by the inaction of Congress and a lack 
of supplies and the delay of reenforcements. 
But never for a minute did Scott's dauntless 
spirit leave him. " The corps," he writes, 
" were daily put through their maneuvers 
and evolutions. We were also kept on the 
alert by an army, sometimes of superior 
numbers, hovering about us, and often as- 
suming a menacing attitude, but always 
ready for flight the moment they saw we 
were under arms. On these occasions it was 
painful to restrain the ardor of the troops, 
but I steadily held to the policy of not to 
wear out patience and sole leather by running 
in the pursuit of small game. I pjayed for 
big stakes. Keeping the army massed and 
the mind fixed upon the capital, I meant 
to content myself with beating w^hatever 
force might stand in the way of that con- 
quest." 

This is only quoted in order to show his 

indomitable spirit, but he knew he was doing 

more. It is a great commander who can so 

restrain his troops when victorious in a 

194 



IN SIGHT OF MEXICO 

strange country as to win for them the 
trust, the admiration, and even the afifection 
of an enemy. 

From Jalapa Scott had issued a procla- 
mation, addressed to the Mexican people at 
large, appealing to the bishops and priests and 
the town functionaries of the places through 
which the army would have to pass, showing 
certificates from those places that they had 
already entered, confirming the declaration 
that the rights of property and the persons of 
individuals had everywhere been respected. 

The people eagerly sought for this proc- 
lamation, and the rumors of the good con- 
duct of the victors and the fulfilment of 
the promises went before them. In fact, 
out of the mouths of their own countrymen 
the Mexicans were convinced that the in- 
vaders were offering them better terms and 
giving them better treatment than even their 
own armies. 

Scott's martial law was exceedingly strict. 
Transgressions of general orders were pun- 
ished instantly and severely, and, although 
195 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

some restless spirits rebelled at what they 
termed " unnecessary severity," the good 
conduct of the troops bore out the truth of 
the general's policy. 

In regard to the proclamation which had 
been issued, General Worth, in a letter that 
he wrote from Puebla, made the following 
statement : 

" It takes admirably, and has accom- 
plished more than all the blows from Palo 
Alto to Cerro Gordo." 

To say that^ people were astonished at 
the small size of the American army hardly 
expresses the situation. In the 4,000 or 
5,000 orderly and well-behaved men that 
maixhed into the city, the Mexicans thought 
they perceived but the vanguard of the army 
that was to follow. When they became 
convinced that this was all the force that 
Scott possessed, they did not think it pos- 
sible that they could have accomplished such 
tremendous results and overcome so many 
difficulties. 

It was a remarkable situation, indeed. 
196 



IN SIGHT OF MEXICO 

Here, nearly 300 miles from its base, in the 
midst of a hostile country, surrounded by an 
enemy, Scott remained unmolested for two 
months. Although outwardly calm, he must 
naturally have felt great anxiety, for he was 
rather uncertain as to how matters stood at 
Washington. Sickness also had broken out, 
as it always will when large bodies of men 
remain too long in one spot, and during this 
space of time — fifty-three days — 700 perished 
from disease. Also evidence came at last 
that the Government was sick of the war, 
although so far it had been nothing but a 
series of brilliant victories for the American 
arms. A Mr. Trist, who had been appointed 
commissioner, arrived in Mexico, armed 
with credentials and given plenipotentiary 
powers. 

Scott did not want to be a party to pro- 
longed and futile negotiations. The best 
way to insure peace, in his mind, was to 
finish the work that he already had begun 
and press on to the capital. He eagerly 
prayed for the arrival of the reenforcements, 
14 197 



THE GIANT OF TIIKEE WARS 

and at length they came. The first to put 
in an appearance was Colonel Mackintosh's 
regiment escorting a train of 132 wagons. 
Five days after his arrival General Cad- 
wallader appeared with 600 men. Within 
ten days General Pillow and General Pierce 
appeared with their commands, numbering 
together 3,500 infantry. 

In a short time Scott found that he 
could count upon between 10,000 and 
11,000. There was one thing that he 
needed, and it was quite impossible to get. 
The money chests were empty. Pay-day 
had long been deferred, and it would prob- 
ably have to be postponed again. But in- 
action breeds more discontent and grum- 
bling than hardship. It is only busy men 
who are happy, and of no class is this truer 
than of soldiers and sailors. Scott wished 
to press ahead. The weather was fine, and, 
although it was midsummer, the altitude of 
the high plains made the air invigorating 
and bracing. 

On the 7th of July the army moved, 
198 



IN SIGHT OF MEXICO 

Harney's brigade of cavalry leading, followed 
by Twiggs's division. All the bands were 
out, and the inhabitants of Pucbla, in their 
gala attire, watched the conquerors leave. 
The route still led upward to higher ground, 
and, as there was no immediate resistance 
to his onward march, the general had time 
to do some thinking. 

It was a marvelous thing he was attempt- 
ing. Eleven thousand men followed him 
into an almost unknown country. Before 
him he knew that there were marshaled some- 
where, 30,000 well-drilled and well-equipped 
troops. He knew that fortresses were ready 
to receive him and dispute his passing, and 
that the defenses were well planned and the 
armaments heavy. 

On the third day the army found itself 
marching through the last dangerous pass. 
It was called Rio Frio — cold river — and, to 
Scott's delight and surprise, no attempt was 
made here to stop him, although preparations 
were evident, and a plan to do so must have 
been hastily abandoned. When the army 
199 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

at length had safely threaded the narrow 
gorge they debouched upon the sloping sides 
beyond, and there lay the city and the fer- 
tile plain ! The cathedral towers spired up 
in the cool, clear air, the red-tiled houses and 
the white walls gleamed, the waving trees of 
the plazas made cool, green spots refresh- 
ing to look at after the bare slopes of the 
mountains. 

Glimmering in the plain were lakes of 
clear, blue water, and far beyond outlined 
against the sky were the snow-clad peaks of 
the guardian mountain ranges, against whose 
flanks hung the white billowing line of 
clouds. 

The successive regiments, as this won- 
drous sight burst upon their view, raised their 
voices in glad cheers. The cavalry scouts 
that had been sent out now returned with 
the news that the enemy was up and 
watching. 

There were three roads by which the city 
could be approached : the main highway, from 
Vera Cruz, along which the army had been 
200 



IN SIGHT OF MEXICO 

traveling ; the Acapulco road, which entered 
the city at right angles; while the Toluca 
came in from the westward. A careful re- 
connoissance of the most direct route showed 
that it must be abandoned, as it was com- 
manded by El Penon, a hill heavily fortified 
by nature and to which military science had 
lent its best endeavor to aid in rendering it 
impregnable. On one side of it rose a sheer 
cliff up which no human being could crawl, 
and on each flank was a deep morass con- 
nected by a ditch 24 feet wide and 10 feet 
deep. From the fort to the city ran a cause- 
way 4 miles long, surrounded by water. On 
its sides were 51 cannon. The causeway 
was defended by ten 24-pounders at its 
farther end that would have swept any force 
attempting to enter the city with hostile in- 
tent. General Scott, therefore, determined 
to reach the Acapulco road, where the de- 
fenses were not so strong. But the Lake of 
Chalco lay almost directly between him and 
the point that he would like to reach. There 
was but one thing left for him to do, and 
201 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

that was to turn, retrace his steps, and go 
around the lake. But this again meant re- 
crossing a mountain spur that came down to 
the lake shore. 

General Worth, who had commanded the 
rear division, now took the lead, and after 
immense labor and with much difficulty, 
dragged his wagons and artillery over the 
rough path, and in less than two days suc- 
ceeded in getting on the road near a place 
called San Augustine, about ten miles from 
the city. Here the camp was established, 
and the army following Worth gathered 
itself together for the great effort that lay 
before it. 

It would appear from a short s-urvey of 
the difficulties that Scott had gained but little 
by changing his original plan — that of advan- 
cing to the attack along the Vera Cruz high- 
way. His position, however, was now a little 
better ; the army was not enclosed by marshes 
and mountains. True, the next point to be 
taken, San Antonio, a village about three 
miles ahead of San Augustine, was strongly 
202 



IN SIGHT OF MEXICO 

fortified, and the only approach to it was 
along a narrow causeway. Near this village 
was the strongly entrenched position on the 
hill of Contreras, and next to it the defenses 
of the bridge of Churubusco, and then be- 
yond, close to the city itself, was the hill 
of Chapultepec. There were 30,000 Mexi- 
cans back of these fortifications ; 100 cannon 
were ready to dispute the passage, and am- 
munition and supplies were plentiful. 

Over all these difficulties the American 
army of less than 11,000 men must march 
before they reached the interior lines of de- 
fense, and these, indeed, were strong enough 
to be disheartening to most generals. Scott, 
however, had learned much of the Mexican 
character, and he counted not a little on 
the prestige already attached to the American 
arms. His men had also had the fact im- 
pressed upon them that a single defeat would 
spell untold disaster ; each man felt the re- 
sponsibility that lay upon himself, and this 
meant determined fighting. 

It was soon rumored that the Mexican 
203 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

position at Contreras was to be carried, and, 
if this was successfully accomplished, Scott 
knew that San Antonio was almost at his 
mercy. The Mexican general Santa Anna 
considered Contreras impregnable. He had 
something to learn in the next few days. 



204 



CHAPTER XII 

CONTRERAS AND CHURUBUSCO 

Over the open plain that was cut up by- 
ditches and interspersed with broken rock 
and uneven lava-beds Scott built a road. 
Under the able direction of Captain Robert 
E. Lee, the engineers and sappers worked 
all night, and, although under a fire that 
somewhat hindered their passage, by four 
o'clock in the afternoon three brigades of 
infantry, with a small battery of 1 2- and 
6-pounders, pushed their way forward toward 
the well-built Spanish road that ran from the 
fortress to the city. 

The Mexicans were in consternation. 
They had deemed the broken country im- 
passable, and now they hurried all the reen- 
forcements to meet this first advance. On 
the brave little army poured the concen- 
205 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

trated fire of over a score of guns of heavy 
caliber! Three pieces — two 12-poundersand 
one 6-pounder — under Captain Magruder and 
Lieutenant Callender, were rushed on ahead, 
and for two hours this little battery replied 
to the furious fire directed at them from the 
heights. 

Scott himself pressed forward and stood 
beside the guns, but at last the Mexicans, 
who at first had fired somewhat wildly, got 
the range exactly. The ground about was 
ripped and tossed by- the hail of iron. The 
men were sometimes forced to separate and 
lie down to let the storm sweep over them. 
At last two of the pieces were dismounted 
and three-fourths of the men who worked 
them killed or wounded. It was found nec- 
essary to recall the force back into the plain 
out of the murderous zone of fire. But all 
the time on the left the troops had been ad- 
vanced in order to stop the flow of Mexican 
reenforcements that were pouring into Con- 
treras. 

The night of the 19th was the most dis- 
206 



#'; 




Scott stood beside the afuns. 



CONTRERAS AND CHURUBUSCO 

heartening that the American army had ex- 
perienced. They were now separated in 
three divisions, absolutely out of touch with 
one another ; and Shields, whose forces were 
farthest advanced, had not received any 
orders from headquarters for over eight 
hours. Seven times did Scott send out offi- 
cers in an endeavor to reach these separated 
brigades, but not one was successful, for 
bodies of Mexican cavalry hovered on the 
American flanks. But at last brave Cap- 
tain Lee rode through a Mexican regiment 
in the darkness and told Scott that his orders 
had been fulfilled, and the men were waiting 
to go in at daylight. It was a dreadful 
night. It rained torrents and the weather 
was cold. The commissary train was left 
far in the rear and there were no supplies ; 
soldiers who had reached the road, and 
who had taken positions in a little orchard 
to the right, had had no food for ten 
hours. 

Before twelve o'clock the news had 
spread that there was to be a night attack, 
207 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

and the men stood to their arms. It was 
better standing than attempting to rest on 
the ground, at all events, for all about them 
it was nothing more than a quagmire. Shiv- 
ering and disconsolate, without blankets or 
overcoats, the men stood waiting for day- 
light, and at last it came. 

Long before dawn the Mexican guns had 
opened, all efforts being concentrated to over- 
whelm the forces on the road. General 
Smith, whose new position had not yet been 
discovered, had advanx:ed to the shelter of a 
slight ridge close under the rising ground, 
above which towered the batteries. It was 
not till six that he had all prepared. Then 
he walked down the line, speaking a word to 
every company. Standing in line were the 
Rifles, picked men and sharpshooters, but 
whose guns were devoid of bayonets. Still 
it was upon them that the main dependence 
was placed, and at the word to advance they 
rushed forward like madmen. A scattering 
volley from the astonished Mexicans, who 
had expected no attack from that direction, 
208 



CONTRERAS AND CHURUBUSCO 

met them, but it did not turn them back. 
They clubbed their way over the first line of 
entrenchment, and falling upon the Mexican 
ranks, which were now in great disorder, they 
drove them, as a body of constables would 
drive a mob, over the farther wall, and fol- 
lowed so close upon their heels that mingled 
fugitives and pursuers poured over the par- 
apet. The rifle stocks swung in the air — 
men did not stop to load ; and to such terror 
were the Mexicans now reduced that, like 
frightened herds of sheep, they ran pell-mell 
up the ravine. Led by their officers, the 
Rifles and the infantry took to the higher 
parts of the hills and poured down a deadly 
fire upon them. It was dreadful slaughter, 
alas, for many of the Mexicans had thrown 
away their arms. 

At one place 500, in endeavoring to 
force their way through a narrow passage, 
became jammed and huddled ; and 30 Ameri- 
cans rushing ahead of them, led by two 
young West Pointers, turned them back and 
took the whole lot prisoners. Think of it ! 
209 



THE GIANT OF THKEE WARS 

Thirty men capturing over 500, of whom 93 
were officers ! 

The cold night and the hunger seemed to 
have turned each private into a maddened, 
fighting beast. The one idea was to close 
with the enemy and to kill. The mob that 
endeavored to take the main road to the city 
was met by Shields's brigade, that now pressed 
forward. They were cut down or made 
prisoners. Soon from the top of the cap- 
tured eminence the bugles were singing the 
recall. 

There was one spectacular event that took 
place, probably unparalleled in any action. 
Early in the day a body of lancers in their 
brilliant uniforms was sent forward by Gen- 
eral Sallas in order to stem the torrent and 
to give the Mexicans time to rally. They 
came sweeping on. When the charge was 
sounded, with lances at rest, they spurred on 
to take the slope from which the Americans 
were firing. But now from two gorges on 
each side at least 2,000 frightened fugi- 
tives burst out directly in front of them. 
210 



CONTRERAS AND CHURUBUSCO 

In an instant they were riding down their 
own men, who clutched at the horses' bridles 
in order to save themselves. Scores upon 
scores were ridden under. Others were 
pierced by the lances of their countrymen. 
Some who had kept their arms even shot the 
lancers from the saddle in order to save 
themselves. The charge was broken up ; it 
turned and faltered, and now upon the strug- 
gling mass the Americans poured their fire. 
The horsemen caught the fever of the panic. 
Those on the edges turned and rode at top 
speed to the city. And now, marvelous to 
relate, with wild cheers and shouts, men on 
foot left their sheltered positions and rushed 
down upon the swaying crowd. Infantry 
charging artillery in open field ! Men slipped 
from their horses that had become entangled 
in the ditches, and tried to escape on foot. 
In twenty minutes that brave and brilliant 
charge had been converted into a spectacle 
of panic and disaster. The rabble swept 
back toward the city, horsemen and infantry 
mingled, the latter clinging to the stirrup 

211 



TriE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

leathers, and even to the tails of the chargers, 
in their endeavor to get away. 

When the bugles sounded the recall, 
which they did continually, it was hours be- 
fore the last pursuer had returned, and the 
regiments that had become mingled were 
sifted out and reformed. Around the hill 
and on the plain were stretched 1,700 killed 
and wounded. The carnage had been ter- 
rific ! Small quarter had been given. The 
earth that had been soaked with rain was 
now soaked with blood. Eight hundred 
prisoners, among them no less than four 
generals, w^ere in the Americans' hands. 
Only two guns had the Mexicans been able 
to remove ; 22 pieces of ordnance, almost 
1,000 pack mules and horses, and vast stores 
of small arms and ammunition were trophies 
of this remarkable victory ; and again the 
American loss was small. 

Scott at last reached the top of the hill. 

Mounted on his tremendous horse that stood 

over seventeen hands high, he looked like a 

giant of the olden days. Riding on to the 

212 



CONTRERAS AND CHURUBUSCO 

position held by the Rifles, who were form- 
ing their wearied and battered ranks, many 
of them with nothing but the bloody barrels 
of their pieces left, he swept his great cocked 
hat from his head. 

•* Brave Rifles, you have been baptized in 
fire and blood, and come out steel," he cried. 

Cheer after cheer went out from all sides. 
In the old-fashioned way the infantry raised 
their great shakos on the points of their 
bayonets. Officers gathered about him. The 
scene was almost too much. The great spirit 
of thankfulness moved him so deeply, min- 
gled with the affection that he felt for these 
brave men about him, that he raised his 
hand. 

" Silence ! " he cried, his voice quivering. 

*' Silence, silence ! " shouted the officers, 
and " Silence " went down the line. 

Every word he said could be heard by 
the 3,000 men on the hilltop. 

" Soldiers," he cried, " in the first place 
great glory to God ! in the second place 
great glory to this gallant little army ! " 

15 213 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

Said one of the officers in describing 
this scene : " You should have heard the 
frantic shouts and hurrahs that followed. It 
seemed as if the soldiers would break from 
their ranks and tear him from his horse." 

Had there been more fighting before 
them that instant, they would have charged 
10,000 men as they would have charged a 
company. Not all of his force had been 
engaged — less than half of it; 3,500 men 
had crumpled up and demolished an army 
of over 7,000 ! Now, however, Scott found 
himself in a peculiar position. In his rear lay 
San Antonio, and before it, only four miles 
away, Churubusco and the bridge ; but the 
Mexicans that held San Antonio did not 
like their own position ; their flanks were 
already turned, and when Garland with his 
brigade that had been held in reserve ap- 
proached they fled. Part of them, how- 
ever, delayed too long and were cut to 
pieces by Colonel Clark and the dragoons, 
who fell suddenly upon them as they left 
the town. All of the Mexican forces now 
214 



CONTRERAS AND CHURUBUSCQ 

were rallied upon Churubusco. There was 
to be more fighting before the sun went 
down ! Santa Anna, the general command- 
ing, rallied some of the fugitives from Con- 
treras, and endeavored to steady them by 
placing them among his soldiers, but the 
stories they told of the fierceness of the 
Americans and the impossibility of resisting 
them already began to destroy the morale 
of the Mexican army before the fight took 
place. 

Probably no stronger position could be 
imagined than that the Mexicans held. 
The bridge over which it was necessary to 
pass was swept by batteries. Before the 
causeway a big canal stretched, and guard- 
ing the entrance to the crossing was a 
field-battery that was advanced in the open 
some 300 yards. A stone wall, pierced by 
a double row of embrasures, was on one 
side of the road, and a heavily fortified 
church overlooked both. The road along 
which the American columns had to pass 
was enfiladed, and swept from three dififer- 
215 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

ent directions. There was another road, 
however, leading from a place called Coy- 
hoacan on the farther side of this fortified 
position. Thus the American army in its 
attack was divided into two separate divi- 
sions, fighting two separate battles within 
a mile of one another. General Worth was 
to force the main causeway, while Twiggs 
and Pillow with Shields's brigade that had 
been in the action of the morning, were to 
push forward along this second road and 
thus divert the Mexican forces, and keep 
them in fear of being cut off from the city, 
should they find it necessary to retreat. 

The well-laid plans of General Scott 
were carried out to the letter. He had 
led the army so often to victory that it did 
not doubt for a minute that it would suc- 
ceed if ever it got started. The men well 
trusted the commander who had so far made 
no mistake ; they reasoned that as long as 
he had prepared the way for them with his 
mind they had but to follow it with their 
bodies. 

216 



CONTRERAS AND CHURUBUSCO 

At one o'clock each separate command 
had reached its allotted position. Scott saw 
them moving down the roads as if for re- 
view, and no sooner had they come within 
range than the Mexican batteries opened. 
As Worth and Colonel Garland pressed up 
the road the heads of their columns were 
swept by the fire. But nothing could check 
the troops, whose only idea was forward. 
The lines of the two separate conflicts had 
now approached so that they were but a few 
hundred yards apart, and the stone-walled 
farmhouse or hacienda and the church were 
now between the American lines. The field- 
batteries had been directed against the two 
foremost entrenched positions the Mexicans 
held, and they were soon reduced and taken 
at the point of the bayonet. From the 
walls and roofs of the city crowds of men 
and women watched the fight ; of one thing 
all were certain, that none of the invaders 
would ever cross the bridge ; that there the 
advance would be stopped ! By half-past 
two the head of Clark's brigade had reached 
217 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

the entrance to the bridge. They had had 
to step over the bodies of their fallen com- 
rades to do so, but when the order to 
charge was passed not a man faltered. They 
crowded across the muddy ditch and rushed 
the bridge furiously. The Mexicans did 
not stay to meet them. Over the parapets 
they went, men jumping sometimes ten or 
twelve feet to reach the ground beyond. 

General Twiggs, who had fought a sepa- 
rate action, had suffered severely. The 
open position that he had held for two 
hours had diverted a great deal of the fire 
that might have overwhelmed Worth's im- 
petuous advance. In order to try to save 
the day, Santa Anna threw up his reserve 
force, and suddenly poured 4,000 infantry 
and 3,000 cavalry on the brigades of Pierce 
and Shields. The Americans had no de- 
fenses, there were no entrenched and loop- 
holed walls before them. They stood shoul- 
der to shoulder on the top of a slight 
eminence and watched the masses of the 
Mexicans come on. Straight and true 
218 



CONTRERAS AND CHURUBUSCO 

they aimed and shot and emptied the sad- 
dles, and even stepped out to meet the 
crest of the brilliant - uniformed line that 
was rolling down upon them. These men 
were New York and South Carolina vol- 
unteers for the most part, but they fought 
like veterans. They would not be ridden 
under ; they refused to be mowed down, and 
once they had actually charged through the 
hostile ranks and taken an advanced posi- 
tion, moving their hollow square, entirely 
surrounded, nearer the city than before. 
Scott now sent forward the regiments of 
Ransom, Wood, and Morgan to Shields's 
relief. They fought their way through to 
their side, and then the next minute the 
fight ceased. But not a foot backward had 
a single detachment of Americans stepped. 
The dragoons pursued the flying forces of 
Santa Anna to the very gates of the city. 
It was a remarkable ending of a most re- 
markable day. The gloom, discontent, and 
uncertainty of the night before had been 
changed to rejoicing and victory. The 
219 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

goal was in sight, they were actually under 
the walls of the capital. The divisions had 
been so far separated that there had actu- 
ally been four separate victories won. Once 
more Scott rejoiced, but still his position 
was one that might cause even the stout- 
est heart to feel a touch of fear. Heavy 
batteries and almost impregnable defenses 
had been carried within twelve hours. But 
a few more such days and there would 
be no army left ! Over i,ooo men had 
fallen on the American side, nearly 80 
officers among them ; and, although his 
supplies had been much augmented by his 
successive captures, he was 300 miles from 
his base, and a single defeat would mean 
that few of the men under him would ever 
see the shores of their native land again. 

Scott's report was terse and to the point. 
After describing shortly the different ac- 
tions and mentioning many of the brave 
young men by name who had contributed 
to the glories of the victory, he writes as 
follows : 

220 



CONTRERAS AND CHURUBUSCO 

" So terminated the series of events 
which I have but feebly presented. My 
thanks were freely poured out on the differ- 
ent fields, to the abilities and science of 
generals and other officers- — to the gal- 
lantry and prowess of all, the rank and 
file included. But a reward infinitely 
higher — the applause of a grateful Gov- 
ernment — will, I can not doubt, be ac- 
corded in due time to so much of merit 
of every sort displayed by this glorious 
army, which has now overcome all difficul- 
ties — distance, climate, ground, fortifica- 
tions, numbers. 

" It has in a single day, in many battles, 
as often defeated 32,000 men, made about 
3,000 prisoners, including 8 generals (2 of 
them ex-Presidents) and 205 other officers ; 
killed or wounded 4,000 of all ranks, besides 
entire corps dispersed and dissolved ; cap- 
tured 37 pieces of ordnance — more than 
trebling our siege-train and field-batteries — 
with a large number of small arms, a full 
supply of ammunition of every kind, etc. 
221 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

These great results have overwhelmed the 
enemy. 

" Our loss amounts to 1,053 • killed, 139, 
including 16 officers; wounded, 876, with 
60 officers." 



222 



CHAPTER XIII 

SUCCESS AND PEACE 

The commissioner, Mr. Trist, that our 
vacillating Government had sent down to 
misrepresent it, hummed and hawed and 
held long confabulations with the Mexican 
commissioners over what they were pleased 
to term "peace negotiations," but they 
amounted to nothing. Scott with his little 
army waited patiently, and knew that he 
would soon be called upon to fight again. 
While Mr. Trist and his colleagues were 
dragging out and postponing affairs, the 
American general thought and planned. 
And the Mexicans were not idle. Although 
they were attempting to strengthen the 
already strong positions that surrounded the 
city, they were doing more than that, in that 
they were building up the morale of their 
223 



TNK (;iANT OF TIIRKE WAIIS 

thricc-dcfcati.'d aimy. i';„\li()i hit ions, piom- 
iscs of reward and puniidiinciil, were ns((J lo 
remind (li(; Mexican troops llial. nothing 
but tlieir slron<j^ stand could save the cily. 
'They were told that tlu; l)ri<;lit eyes oftiie 
women would look down u|)on tlicir valor- 
ous deeds; tluil all liislory lliat told of hrave 
defenses would have; to he rewritten, and 
they would rewrite it for the honor and 
glory of Mexico. 

Scott, knowing (hat tlu; peace; ne<j;()tia- 
tions w(M(; about to fail, and that victory or 
ruin awaited him, had made a close study 
of lh<; defenses; surely they were strong^ 
enough. ThcM-e weic but eij^iit main trav- 
eled ways which entered the city |)ropcr. 
The liv(; ^ates that were the only means 
l)y which the citizens themselves could enter 
or l(;ave, were each and evcMy one i)ro- 
teeted by a stronjj^ and se|)arate fort. An 
im|)enelrable swamp was on one side of the 
town, while on the other side stretched a 
wide and deep canal, over which the roads 
passed o>i bridges commanded l)y the Mexi- 
224 



Slice KSS AND PKACK 

can guns. T.ns(, niid by no menus IcnsI, w:is 
the lowering; fortress of ( ■linpullcpec, wlios(; 
frovvnin<2;" raniparls and myriad Iooj)li()l('S 
commanded nol oidy llie main a[)|)i<)aehes, 
hut; the frrvM eily ilself llial lay almost :il its 
fool. It is an old maxim of war lh:il no 
city ean Ix" invested and held until IIk- cita- 
del has fallen, and here towered the si ron^;- 
CSt fortilied position on the whole of IIk; 
western eontinein ! Not. only were the 
steep sides of the hill dolled here and there 
with batteries and redoulits, t he base ilself 
being surromwh^d by a hi^^h stone wall, bnl 
at the very to|), 150 feet in almost sheer 
ascent, rose the castle, surmounted by a. 
great donn- and brisllin^j;^ with the ^uns thai 
lined its escarpments, bastions, and [)arapets. 
Two ston(^ walls, 15 feet hi<^h, of solid inn- 
sonry, ran about the l)as<; of the castle, and 
here heavy cannon were plae(;d. Only on 
one side could the heights be sealed, ;md 
tfiat was on the westttrn, l)etw(;en the eily 
and t he fortress. 

'idle cjuestion was, how to g<;t there. A 
225 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

heavy forest was on this western slope, and 
on its edge were two fortified positions, 
the King's Mill (Molino del Rey) and the 
Casa de Mata, two strongly built stone edi- 
fices well adapted for defense, that stood on 
a line about 400 feet apart. Between them 
Santa Anna had built a heavy battery, in 
which he had placed a line of 24-pounders. 
In and about this almost impregnable posi- 
tion were 14,000 men, and counting the 
forces on the slopes above and in the citadel 
itself, Santa Anna had at his beck and call 
at least 30,000. In this army were not enu- 
merated the volunteers and guerrilla forces 
from the city and surrounding country. 

Again think of it ! Scott had little more 
than 8,000 available men, including all 
branches of the service ! 

Mr. Trist's futile attempts at peace ne- 
gotiations failed utterly on the 7th of Sep- 
tember, and on the evening of the 7th 
Scott resolved to move upon the city and 
to arrive there, if possible, by way of Cha- 
pultepec. 

226 



SUCCESS AND PEACE 

It seems, in writing of the previous ac- 
tions, tliat nothing more could be said to 
prove the remarkable persistence and valor 
of this little army. Yet what had gone be- 
fore, wonderful as it had been, was nothing 
to what happened in the next forty-eight 
hours. How human flesh and blood could 
have stood the strain is hard to comprehend, 
and how the endurance of these remarkable 
soldiers held out is little short of marvelous ; 
but at the end of the day Molino del Rey 
was in their possession, although it had cost, 
in killed and wounded, fully i,ooo men. 
Wonderful things had taken place. The 
storming party that had first, under Major 
Wright, fiercely attacked the center battery, 
reached the wall, and actually fought and 
clubbed the Mexican gunners from their 
guns, but when it was seen what a small de- 
tachment had accomplished this, the Mexi- 
cans rallied and drove them out by sheer 
force of numbers. Wright had, when he 
started on this wild dash in open daylight, 
500 men, commanded by 14 officers ; 11 out 
227 



THE GIANT OF THREE AVARS 

of the 14 wore shot down, and but 160 of 
the eomniand were able to reform at the 
edge of the wood. But these same heroes, 
Avhen joined by a lig-ht battalion under Kirby 
Smith and some of Cadwalladers volunteers, 
swept forward again and overran the battery, 
breaking the Mexican line in two. 

But the enemy that held possession of 
the two strong stone buildings eould not he 
driven out without the assistanee of artillery. 
Slowly, but surely, the Ameriean field- 
pieees were advancexi bv hand across the 
open space, tiring as thev went. Before 
they had got within 400 yards every gunner 
was shot awav. and Captain Drum called 
upon the infantry for volunteers, but there 
were no men who knew verv much about 
artillery, and none of them liked to give up 
their places in their own regiments; vet the 
guns must be served and must be pushed 
nearer ; soon, strange to relate, thev were in 
action again. Foot bv foot thev were trun- 
dled ahead of the infantrv. who were wait- 
ing for a breach to be made, through which 
228 



SUCCESS AND PEACE 

they might enter with the bayonet. When 
Drum looked at those guns he saw that 
every artillerist beside them was a West 
Point officer I They had left their com- 
mands, and, with sponge and rammer, 
primer, ball, and charge, were working as 
coolly as if they were at practise at the 
green plateau that overlooks the Hudson. 
Behind the battery and almost surrounding 
it, the infantry crowded. The first breach 
being made, shrieking and cheering, tliey 
charged forward, almost clawing at one an- 
other in their anxiety to be first inside the 
defenses. Frightful was the carnage there ; 
no quarter was asked or given on either side, 
and the little stream that ran from the foun- 
tain, that had been shattered by a cannon- 
shot, was red with blood. 

Around the other stone house almost the 
same story was repeated, although here the 
American loss was even greater. For two 
hours the infantry had sustained the concen- 
trated fire of grape and musketry without 
retiring, and it was not until late in the after- 
. 10 229 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

noon, when the sun was setting, that they 
got near enough to charge over guns, gun- 
ners, and all. Out of one regiment that 
faced the Mexican fire here but 300 men 
remained. 

Scott rode over the field that night, and 
his heart bled at the evidences of the terrific 
slaughter, " friend and foe in one red burial 
blent." But yet the slightly wounded, or 
those who were yet conscious, raised them- 
selves on their elbows and feebly cheered 
him. 

There was no sleep that night for the 
general or his staff. They had taken the 
first step to Chapultepec. They were on 
the lower stair, but they would have to fight 
their way to the very top, and if this day's 
battle was an earnest of the one that was to 
follow, there would be between 5,000 and 
6,000 men, only, left him to enter a city 
that had comprised among its population 
nearly 80,000 men of fighting age. Whether 
the city would resist his entering — if Cha- 
pultepec should fall — he could not tell. He 
2^0 



SUCCESS AND PEACE 

was led to suppose it would not. At all 
events, there was no time to hesitate. Ac- 
tion was necessary. Scott said to one of 
his officers : " If I had ten times the number 
of men that I now have, I could use them ; 
so every man must fight as if he was ten 
himself." And that is exactly what they did. 
By all rules of the game of war that were 
ever printed, written, or learned, Scott was 
defeated and repulsed. In fact, he should 
have been annihilated, if not at Molino del 
Rey, the first thing on the following morn- 
ing after this costly victory. The Mexicans 
might have poured out like an avalanche 
from the cliffs above and swept the little 
blue-coated army out of existence. But 
such a thought never entered the American 
private's mind. The general had carried 
him through tight places before, and he 
would do it again. There was nothing to 
prevent him entering the city proper at this 
very minute. All he had to do was to batter 
down one of the gates and rush through into 
the streets that were filled with the terror- 
231 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

stricken inhabitants, but with Chapultepec 
in the Mexicans' hands, his sojourn in Mexico 
would have been short ; he might have en- 
tered, but he would never have left again. 
It was necessary to pause before delivering 
the final attack. 

Scott determined to divert attention 
by pretending that the city was his des- 
tination. So on the 12th of September a 
battery, well supported, was sent forward to 
begin hammering at the gate. Four large 
batteries were planted within easy distance of 
the castle walls, with orders to begin firing 
as soon as daylight was sufficient for the 
ranges to be found. Long before the sun 
had shown above the horizon, the grim, 
gray dawn was saluted by the red gashes of 
flame from the cannons' mouths. The shells 
raising their fiery arches from their burn- 
ing fuses, the thundering discharges of the 
Mexican guns that soon replied, almost 
shook the solid rock. From daylight till 
it was pitch dark the artillery duel went on. 
The Mexicans, though firing from above, 
232 



SUCCESS AND PEACE 

displayed, luckily, little accuracy, and the 
American gunners soon got the range to a 
dot, and hardly a shot went wild. By night- 
fall it was evident the fortress was severely 
shaken ; and by the morning of the 13th the 
storming party were in position. The plan 
was to advance in two columns. 

Pillow was to come forward from the 
west, and Quitman on the southeast. 
Ahead of the main columns, on each side, 
were 250 picked men. Worth's division 
was to act as a reserve, and Twiggs was 
to keep up his attack on the gates of 
the city. 

The Mexicans had mined the first line 
of defenses, and it was the intention to blow 
up the Americans if they should ever cross 
the ramparts ; but so keen were the troops 
and so swift was the first advance that the 
picked vanguard reached the first wall and 
surmounted it alone. They shot down the 
men who had been left to fire the mines, and 
were stamping out some of the burning fire 
trains that led to them, as the main division, 
233 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

shouting and cheering, came tumbling over 
the escarpment. 

The firing now broke out all along the 
surface of the hill. Here and there Httle 
bands of five or six men could be seen, 
climbing along like goats, helping with hand 
and shoulder their comrades above and be- 
neath them. Resistlessly they pushed up. 
The Mexicans watching from the cathedral 
spires and the city walls saw the Stars and 
Stripes, flag after flag appear, as point after 
point was taken. But for some time from 
the topmost pinnacle floated the Mexican 
banner, and then at last it wavered, fluttered, 
and came down. 

A detachment of the New York volun- 
teers, led by Lieutenant Reid, and another 
of the Second Infantry, led by the brave 
Lieutenant Steele, were first to gain the inner 
walls of the citadel. Young Steele was 
badly wounded, but with the assistance of 
two men on either side of him, he kept 
moving upward, and when at last he reached 
the top, it was his own hand that lowered 
234 



SUCCESS AND PEACE 

the last Mexican banner. As its folds flut- 
tered about him, he fell fainting to the 
ground. 

Scott, with great difficulty, owing to his 
tremendous size and weight, at last reached 
the crest, and saw the retreating Mexicans 
streaming away on all sides, and hanging on 
their flanks, pursuing them, were bodies of 
American troops, mad with the desire to 
kill and to have revenge for the slaughter 
of their comrades at Molino del Rey. Scott 
sent orders, ordering the recall of the pur- 
suers. To those near about him he raised 
his voice almost in supplication. *' Be hu- 
mane and generous, my boys, as you are 
victorious, and I will get down on my bend- 
ed knee to God for you to-night." 

It was a long time, however, before the 
officers could call off their men from the 
pursuit. The hillsides and the plain and the 
meadow beyond were crowded with dead 
and wounded Mexicans. 

In the afternoon a small battery was car- 
ried before the gates, and at four o'clock on 
235 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

the next morning, September 14th, a depu- 
tation from the City Council waited upon 
General Scott and informed him that the 
Government and all the troops had fled 
from the capital, and that the citizens them- 
selves wished to surrender the city. 

Scott refused to sign any capitulation, 
claiming that the city was already in his pos- 
session, and about daylight Worth and Quit- 
man advanced, and, practically, unmolested, 
reached the great plaza and hoisted the 
colors of the United States on the national 
palace. There was some rioting that lasted 
twenty-four hours, for many soldiers had 
thrown aside their uniforms, and joining the 
liberated convicts, carried on desultory firing 
from the housetops. But with the assist- 
ance of the municipal authorities, who appar- 
ently were glad to see the American army 
in possession, they were at last driven out 
and punished. Guards were posted every- 
where, and within four days the city was 
tranquil and cheerful, and the American 
soldiers everywhere were winning their way, 
236 



SUCCESS AND PEACE 

not now by force of arms, but by strict 
maintenance of law and order, and by the 
magnanimity of their conduct. 

The losses on both sides, during the action 
on the 13th, and the storming of Chapultepec 
and the storming of the gates of the city, were 
as follows : The Mexicans lost in killed out- 
right over 1,000, and in wounded 1,580, 
while 853 were taken prisoners, a loss equal 
to half the numbers of the attacking force. 
The American loss in killed and wounded 
was under 900. 

It would be cheerful writing if we could 
record that General Scott was to reap at 
once the benefit of all that he had gained. 
But, alas, it was not so ! No sooner had 
he established law and order in the captured 
capital than he received orders to turn over 
his command and return home. He was 
dragged from his victorious battle-fields to 
answer groundless charges before a court of 
inquiry. The Mexicans could not under- 
stand it ; the army that loved him to a man 
237 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

was stunned and nonplussed. The city 
authorities begged him to remain. They 
wished to make their terms with him instead 
of any other representative of the United 
States. Some well-intentioned people even 
thought to bribe him by offering him the 
presidency of the country, with a salary 
almost ten times that the President of his 
own received. However, he met them all. 
He told them that the Americans were a 
law-abiding nation. That he as command- 
ing general had received orders from one 
higher in authority, the head of the nation 
at Washington, and there was nothing for 
him to do but to obey the summons. Back 
along the line of his victorious march he trav- 
eled with a small retinue, and disdaining to 
accept the offer of transportation on a large 
and commodious steamer, on the ground 
that his soldiers would soon be needing her 
services, he set sail on a little brig for New 
York. 

Sick at heart, he hastily passed through 
the city, without stopping to receive the 
238 



SUCCESS AND PEACE 

congratulations of its inhabitants, and quiet- 
ly he retired to his little home in Elizabeth- 
town, N. J. ; but the country would not let 
him rest, and soon he was called from his 
seclusion to receive one of the greatest out- 
bursts of popular feeling and enthusiasm 
ever shown a leader in peace or war in the 
United States. 

New York city turned out en masse to 
greet him. Public buildings were decorated 
with flags, and the voice of the metropolis 
joined with the music of the bands in hails 
to the chief. 

We can not here discuss the outcome of 
the war with Mexico, its reason or its jus- 
tice. We have but to do with the glorious 
character of the man. Faults he may have 
had; self-dependence may have been twisted 
by some minds so as to represent a sense of 
personal vanity ; assurance in his own powers 
may have been mistaken by some for over- 
weening pride. But let a contemporary 
speak of him as those who knew him best 
believed him to be in his character and per- 
239 



THE GIANT OF THREE WARS 

son, dauntless and brave, bold, determined, 
and honest : 

" Courage and coolness in the hour of 
danger ; fertility in resource ; extensive, yet 
rapid, combinations of powers necessary to 
covering a great field of operation, yet losing 
none of the details ; perfect control over his 
troops, tireless energy, and great humanity — 
combine in him as are rarely found in any 
man." 

In 1852 Scott was a candidate of the 
Whig party for President, and though de- 
feated, he was nearly successful ; but he had 
many enemies (as what great man has not ?), 
and the victorious party, under President 
Pierce, in the very shame at the ingratitude 
of politicians, conferred on him the title of 
lieutenant-general, with a salary of $10,000 
a year. 

At the outbreak of the great civil war he 
was at the head of the army, an old man 
burdened with years and weighted down 
with responsibilities and physical ailments 
that went with his extreme age ; still he 
240 



SUCCESS AND PEACE 

boldly confronted the problem, and though 
forced to step aside at last, inaugurated the 
plans and movements, many of which led to 
the ultimate success of the National forces. 
And he lived to see peace once more settle 
down upon the country in whose cause he 
had bled, and to whose service he had given 
over fifty years of his eventful and success- 
ful life. 

(1) 



THE END 



241 



BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS^ 

PUBLISHED IN THE AUTUMN, 190S. 
BY JAMES BARNES. 

The Giant of Three Wars. 

(Heroes of Our Army Series.) Illustrated. i2mo. Cloth, $i.oo 
net ; postage, lo cents additional. 

This life of General Winfield Scott makes the first volume in the new series to 
be known as " Heroes of Our Army." It possesses a colored frontispiece and other 
illustrations. 

BY MARION AMES TAGGART. 

At Aunt Anna's. 

Colored Frontispiece and other Illustrations by William L. 
Jacobs. lamo. Cloth, $i.oo net ; postage, lo cents additional. 

The story of Ted and Dolly, who are twins, while staying one summer in the 
country at Aunt Anna's. This is a tale for children of ten or twelve years of age, 
being illustrated, and having an illustrative cover. It is a daintj' book for dainty 
children, but has the charm that interests the grown person who may read it aloud 
to those for whom it was written. 

BY KATE DICKINSON SWEETSER. 

Micky of the Alley and Other Youngsters. 

With Illustrations by George Alfred Williams. i2mo. Cloth, 
$i.oo net ; postage, lo cents additional. 

A collection of tales for children of ten to twelve years of age. The subjects 
are widely varied. That one giving its title to the book, together with "James 
Barkerding, Knight," are of life in the tenement districts of New York. "Teddy 
Baird's Luck " tells how a boy finds, when he least expects it, the adventure he 
has been looking for ; " Marooned " is the story of a boy who finds that a boy may 
be just as much scared as a girl ; "Othello, Jr.," describes how a little negro played 
Othello in a juvenile company of actors ; " A Military Opening " and " The Boys' 
Ball" are Christmas stories; and "Sal" is the pathetic story of a little girl who 
follows a hand-organ and coughs for pennies. 

The tales make an interesting and wholesome book for the young, and are told 
with grace and literary feeling. The pathos and charm of several are notable. 

BY GABRIELLE E. JACKSON. 

Three Graces. 

Illustrated in Colors by C. M. Relyea. i2mo. Cloth, $1.25 net ; 
postage, 12 cents additional. 

A story for girls of boarding-school life, full of incident and wholesome charac- 
terization, with delightfully cozy scenes of indoor enjoyment and an exciting de- 
scription of a Hallowe'en escapade. The Three Graces are interesting girls who 
may count upon finding among youthful readers many who will follow their school 
experiences with a sense of making new friends. Mrs. Jackson introduces a strong 
element of attraction in the honest character of the young country lawyer who 
carries with him a breath of loyalty to all that is best. The Three Graces them- 
selves are girls of very different characteristics who influence each other for good. 
The book is illustrated in a spirited manner, and in colors. 

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. 



BY HEZEKIAH BUTTERWORTa 

Brother Jonathan ; or, The Alarm Post in the Cedars. 

A Tale of Early Connecticut. Illustrated. Colored Frontispiece. $1.25 
net ; postage, 12 cents additional. 

A stirring tale of the early days of Connecticut, dominated by the forceful per- 
sonality of Jonathan Trumbull, whose name, through its affectionate use by George 
Washington, has become the familiar nickname of the nation that he helped to make. 



OTHER BOOKS BY MR. BUTTERWORTH. 

In the Days of Audubon. 

A Tale of the " Protector of Birds." Illustrated by B. West Clinedinst 
and others. $1.20 net ; postage, 14 cents additional. 

In the Days of Jefferson; or, The Six Golden Horseshoes. 

A Tale of Republican Simplicity. Illustrated by F. T. Merrill. $1.50. 

The Story of Magellan. 

A Tale of the Discovery of the Philippines. Illustrated by F. T. Merrill 
and others. $1.50. 

The Treasure Ship. 

A Story of Sir William Phipps and the Inter-Charter Period in Massa- 
chusetts. Illustrated by B. West Clinedinst and others. $1.50. 

The Pilot of the Mayflower. 

Illustrated by H. Winthrop Peirce and others. $1.50. 

True to his Home. 

A Tale of the Boyhood of Franklin. Illustrated by H, Winthrop Peirce. 
$1.50. 

The Wampum Belt ; or, The Fairest Page of History. 

A Tale of William Penn's Treaty with the Indians. With 6 full-page 
Illustrations. $1.50. 

The Knight of Liberty. 

A Tale of the Fortunes of Lafayette. With 6 full-page Illustrations. 

$1.50. 

The Patriot Schoolmaster. 

A Tale of the Minutemen and the Sons of Liberty. With 6 full-page 
Illustrations by H. Winthrop Peirce. $1.50. 

In the Boyhood of Lincoln. 

A Story of the Black Hawk War and the Tunker Schoolmaster. With 
12 Illustrations and colored Frontispiece. $1.50. 

The Boys of Greenway Court. 

A Story of the Early Years of Washington, With 10 full-page Illustra- 
tions. $1.50. 

The Log School-House on the Columbia. 

With 13 full-page Illustrations by J. Carter Beard, E. J. Austen, and 
others. $1.50. 

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. 







■^0 



'bV'^ 



^'-^^^ 



^. ** 




.0 V. *.,,. o,^ 






}.°-n(. 








* A^"^ ^ 

* <^^ "^^ *. 













'^ov^ 




^^ . » * 














'T..* ,G 



.^ 































\* .. -*■ ••■ f 





